Well, here we are, mid June in Greystones and it feels like this must be one of the first weeks since September ’03 that I haven’t heard fireworks going off at some point during the week.

I honestly think there is a strong case for banning the public sale of fireworks. Apart from a noise nuisance that can last months, there seem to be more reports of fireworks being used as ‘weapons’ – one news report last year in west Yorkshire when a large Chinese type firework was lobbed onto the roof of a house. It went straight through the roof into the room below, landed in a baby’s cot and set fire to it - The baby was not in the cot.

Apart from this incident, just the ‘normal’ amount of injuries caused per year justifies a ban.

People could still enjoy fireworks – in addition to the public display at Don Valley, all the major Sheffield parks could get back to having a public display like they used to – Endcliffe Park, Hillsborough Park, and Graves Park.

This would not necessarily come out of the public purse (not that I would mind) they could be paying events, after all, the people attending would be saving money on the fireworks they had not bought.
I say ban the public sale of fireworks:rant:

Ditto.
I'm afraid that the implementation of such views will be seen as an intrusion of the Nanny State, the elimination of choice and an infringement on individual freedoms rather than restrictions on antisocial behaviour and criminality.
An alternative to a complete ban would be one on any firework which made a loud noise. Fireworks could just be appreciated as a colourful spectacle then.

It's such a shame that a few morons will ruin the enjoyment of firework spectacles for everyone...

Can't bring myself to support a ban, but equally haven't thought of a better alternative yet... :mad:

Just ban the sales of everything above a certain size to members of the public.

Allow sales through licensed dealers to licensed pyrotechnicians for the bigger ones.

Make possession of an unsealed box of fireworks, or single fireworks, in the street or outside of private property an offence under the Firearms legislation.

I'm remined of the shop keeper in The Simpsons who sold a ginormous banger to Bart and Homer with the comment that they celebrate the independence of their country by blowing chunks of it up....

:-)

is the "YES ban them" in the poll a total ban or a no bonfire night ban?

i dont think we should completly ban them because thats ludicrus! one of our traditions is built upon fireworks.

yes i can admit (as in everything) there are t***s that p**s about with them! and are dangerous

Originally posted by Fletch
is the "YES ban them" in the poll a total ban or a no bonfire night ban?

i dont think we should completly ban them because thats ludicrus! one of our traditions is built upon fireworks.

yes i can admit (as in everything) there are t***s that p**s about with them! and are dangerous

I mean a ban on the sale of fireworks to the public. Organised public displays only, by local authorities (or private companies)
This way, you would still keep the tradition that you mention.

Originally posted by draggletail
I mean a ban on the sale of fireworks to the public. Organised public displays only, by local authorities (or private companies)
This way, you would still keep the tradition that you mention.

My thoughts exactly... But the Government gets a big fat wad of VAT from the sale of them so I doubt they'll ever be banned from sale :loopy:

Ban the noisy ones that don't do anything but go BANG! completely. They're hardly display items are they.

Allow the decorative ones in public displays only under strict license. For sale at council registered outlets only. Members of the public caught in possession should then be charged with possessing an offensive 'weapon'. (Which is what they can be).

Originally posted by Agent Dan
It's such a shame that a few morons will ruin the enjoyment of firework spectacles for everyone...

But it isn't just a few morons...it's lots and lots of morons.

When we lived in the Firth Park area it often sounded like a film of the battle of the Somme. I thought it was just a local problem, but apparently not.

Anyway, isn't there legislation in the offing to deal with the issue...and the local council I think still have the power to create and enforce bye-laws to deal with it ?

My poll on banning the public sale of fireworks shows 78% in favour of a ban....

i dont think there should be a ban on fireworks although there should be better restrictions.

shops should only be able to sell them 3 weeks before bonfire night and restrict the amount of fireworks that people buy. they should make it so that you can only order them for home delivery so that people cannot order them in seperate transactions to counteract this. surely they could have a database containing addresses of customers to show whether they have previously ordered them or not.

saying this, i myself order a hell of a lot of fireworks for my sons birthday which falls just before bonfire night and we have a bonfire party for him. i get them at half the retail price as well. must spend hundreds on them every year.

there is a whistling one out this year which has 1000 shots which i can get for around £25.

Fireworks started last week (mid September, same as last year) in our area:loopy:

by banning them or implementing these "offensive weapon" or firearms offences you'd criminalise everyone who ever had a private bonfire with some fireworks.

Every year I buy some for bonfire night, take them out on the field behind my parents and enjoy setting them of and watching them (the dog is never quite so sure, he's a big coward).

restrictions on who they were sold too might make more sense, only selling to over 18's and people with proof of id, possibly recording who they were sold too.

That would rule out most of the yobs straight away, as they are unlikely to want to hand over details of who they are if they intend something nefarious.

Originally posted by draggletail



I say ban the public sale of fireworks :rant:


I agree - nutters throw them or put them in phone boxes.