Westminster Life: Enjoy Bonfire Night, but let's keep it safe

Most people enjoy the spectacle of a firework display, but that can easily turn into frustration when the fun becomes a late-night nuisance, writes Andrew Pakes MP.

Worries about nuisance and dangerous fireworks fill my inbox all year round, not just at this time of year. From Dogsthorpe and Bretton to Ravensthorpe and the streets around Central Park, where I live, I hear the same stories: explosions late into the night, frightened pets bolting from gardens, and veterans and children left anxious in their own homes.

Let me be clear: no one wants to stop anyone having fun. A well-run display on a crisp November evening is one of the joys of the year, and the safe, responsible use of fireworks is something we can all enjoy. But at the end of the day, these are explosive devices. Misused, they can and do cause serious injury and damage to property, and every year our emergency services deal with the consequences.

That is why I have made nuisance fireworks one of my key local campaigns since being elected. I co-sponsored a cross-party Bill in the Commons to ban the loudest fireworks and close the loopholes that let unlicensed sellers trade, and more than 1,500 of you backed my petition for tighter rules on fireworks. That pressure helped push the Government into the most extensive review of fireworks law in a generation. The consultation closed last month, and I'll be pressing ministers to turn these proposals into law as quickly as possible.

The law on fireworks has stayed the same for years despite worries raised by many, including animal welfare charities, the British Legion and the National Farmers Union. If it were up to me, I’d ban the private sale of fireworks. I am fed up with the nuisance. But not everyone agrees, so banning the noisiest and toughening up licensing is the next best thing.

Last month I met council officers and Councillor Christian Hogg, the council's Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services and Enforcement, and we agreed to investigate a city-wide Public Spaces Protection Order. Some councils have already done this, making it easier to clamp down on the reckless few. The council will work with the police, fire service and me to get this plan sorted.

In the meantime, there are simple steps we can all take this week. If you can, go to an organised display. If you are celebrating at home, let your neighbours know in advance, choose quieter fireworks, finish at a sensible time and follow the safety advice. Keep pets indoors and think of those for whom a sudden bang is far more than a nuisance.

I want people to enjoy themselves and be safe while doing it. Bonfire Night should be a celebration for the whole community, not a night of dread for some of our neighbours.

If you want to make your thoughts heard, please fill in my fireworks survey. Just head to my website, andrewpakes.org.uk, and let me know what you think.