Shipley MP pushes for changes to fireworks legislation

Anna Dixon MP for Shipley, has taken a proactive stance in support of toughening up laws and ending the antisocial use of fireworks in her constituency.

The Member of Parliament has written to the Home Secretary and has advocated for measures including reducing the legal decibel level and assessing the banning of the most disruptive categories of fireworks.

The Labour MP told Yvette Cooper about the correspondence she has had with dozens of residents in her constituency about the impact this issue has on their lives, such as preventing them from sleeping or causing emotional distress to them and their pets.

Under the last Labour government, the Fireworks Regulations 2004 imposed curfews on fireworks, restricted their sale to certain times of the year for unlicensed sellers, and outlawed their use in public places.

In England and Wales, it is illegal to set off fireworks between 23:00 and 07:00, except on Bonfire Night when the cut-off is 00:00.

For personal use, fireworks can only be purchased from registered seasonal sellers between 15 October and 10 November, from Boxing Day until New Year's Eve, and three days prior to Diwali and Chinese New Year.

However, as Ms Dixon will attest from her constituents' responses, fireworks' disruptive and antisocial use persists.

The West Yorkshire MP has also pledged her support to a campaign calling on the government to review existing fireworks legislation and account for their impact on human and animal welfare.

Anna Dixon said: “The anti-social use of fireworks is unacceptable. I have received many emails from constituents across Shipley telling me how noisy fireworks are affecting them. I have spoken to residents in Wrose and Baildon and heard how fireworks are preventing them from sleeping or causing emotional distress to them and their pets.

“The law is clear that fireworks should not disturb the peace after 11 pm. However, it is evident that some individuals are disregarding this. It has been two decades since the last set of regulations on fireworks, and it would be good to revisit this issue.

“It was the previous Labour government that last took action on anti-social firework use, and I would support the new government taking action on it again.”