Firework regulations to be reviewed

Carmarthenshire County Council is to look at current regulations of firework displays and noise limits on fireworks.

It comes after a Notice of Motion calling for stricter measures on the sale of fireworks for private use was backed by Full Council and discussed at Executive Board this month.

Cllr Philip Hughes, executive board member responsible for Public Protection said a designated officer will be appointed to look at current rules, make recommendations and feedback to Executive Board in October.

He said: “It is my intention to appoint a designated officer to group and to gather evidence to evaluate as well as making recommendations and I look forward to seeing the completed report.”

Cllr Philip Hughes also said that the council would continue to raise awareness of any public displays in advance so that residents had enough time to take any necessary precautions for their animals or vulnerable loved ones.

“Public Displays in Carmarthenshire are for the most part relatively rare and well organised, and I think it is important that we remember that, as by their very nature they are well advertised and of limited duration, he said.

“If there is concern of the level of nuisance with private displays or individuals causing anti-social behaviour through use of fireworks at anti-social times and locations, then evidence needs to be obtained and evaluated to establish sufficient persistence, to enable a proportionate response and that enough resources are allocated to the relevant department to deal with them. As well as collating our own data it will require cooperation and intelligence gathering from other partner agencies such as the police and fire authority to gauge the extent and level of distress caused.”

Carmarthenshire is the tenth local authority in Wales to pass the RSPCA motion, which was proposed by Cllr Louvain Roberts.

It’s against the law in the UK to set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am except on certain occasions. Councils can take action if firework noise is deemed a statutory noise nuisance, or if fireworks are being used in an anti-social manner.

Cllr Philip Hughes also said that regular inspections are carried out on premises licensed to sell fireworks for private use, and that they can only be sold between October 15 to  November 10 and  December 26 to December 31.

He said: “At present we have around 24 retail outlets on our licensing system, and the fireworks sold via these outlets must not have a noise level above 120 decibels and no display type fireworks should be sold for consumer use. Whilst we are successful in ensuring this is the case via local retailers, unfortunately we have little control over the world wide web and online sales.”

The motion also called on the council to write to the UK and Welsh Governments asking them to review existing legislation.

He added: “An all Wales approach would be better served to gauge opinion on the prospect of requesting a review of legislation.”