Date published: 2023-10-31 | Category: public safety, Public Health, Environment and Clean Air, Focusing on prevention
People looking to light up the sky this Bonfire Night are being asked to consider others in their community when deciding whether to let off fireworks.
Loud noises can have an impact on vulnerable people as well as on pets and livestock, which can also be seriously harmed by firework debris left on the ground.
Bath & North East Somerset Council is continuing to back the RSPCA’s #BangOutOfOrder campaign which aims to raise awareness about the impact of fireworks on animals and calls for regulations to be changed to protect them.
In 2021, the council passed a motion brought by Councillor Alan Hale to recognise that noise from fireworks can cause fear and distress to animals and impact vulnerable people. The motion also agreed that the council should ask local suppliers to stock quieter fireworks and request that public displays are advertised in advance, so that residents can take precautions to avoid them.
Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “We encourage everyone to consider the whole community when deciding whether to let off fireworks, not only in terms of using them safely but also in relation to how noise and smoke can seriously affect animals and people.
“Every year, fireworks cause considerable distress to pets, horses, livestock and their owners. I’m sure many people are already aware that debris can also damage properties and crops and that smoke causes lingering air pollution. That’s why we’re urging people to think of others when deciding how to celebrate Bonfire Night this year. Instead of lighting your own fireworks, please consider attending an organised display to keep yourself and others safe.”
Planned fireworks displays in B&NES include Light Up Lansdown at Bath Racecourse on November 3 and the Rotary Club of Bath Community Fireworks on November 4.
The council has a fireworks advice webpage for anyone planning a firework display or looking for more information about the impact of fireworks.
People who have concerns about the impact of firework displays on themselves, the community, pets or livestock, can use the RSPCA #BangOutOfOrder toolkit and display posters in their windows if they have a pet who is vulnerable to the noise. The RSPCA also invites people to share their experiences about the impact of fireworks via this survey.
There is also an Alternatives to Fireworks page
ENDS