Could Highland Council ban fireworks from being sold in the region?
Highland Council has the power to ban fireworks due to “anti-social behaviour” through control zones that carry with them a maximum penalty of £5000 or six months imprisonment.
A report is coming to the communities and place committee on Thursday to outline the council’s position on how it could, if called on, establish firework control zones by way of a community request, most likely a community council.
Alan Yates from the council’s environmental health department explained the process as having four stages: initial enquiry through discussions; an application for a firework control zone, and consideration of the application.
During the application stage various factors will be considered like the evidence threshold, and the reasons for the application like: the misuse of fireworks/injuries; impact on vulnerable groups; environmental protection and animal welfare.
If the decision is to move ahead with the control zone then the council would launch a public and stakeholder consultation process and prepare a final report so the local area committee can take the final decision.
If it is agreed then the “the decision on the zone will be publicised at least 60 days prior to the decision taking effect” and if it is not there is no right of appeal but the council would explain the decision.
The council and some its partners already undertake a range of both prevention and intervention activities regarding the deliberate misuse of fireworks.
That includes national initiatives like the annual Operation Moonbeam which is a multi-agency response to the challenges of the bonfire night period to encourage people to attend public fireworks displays.
There is proactive enforcement of the legal requirements on firework sale and supply by the council’s trading standards team, community engagement and awareness at primary and secondary schools while environmental health deals with noise complaints related to firework displays.
