CAMPAIGNERS IN APPEAL TO COUNCIL OVER FIREWORKS AS NEW LEGISLATION IS PASSED
FIREWORK safety campaigners have called on council bosses to crack down on misuse in the wake of new legislation from Holyrood.
Following pressure from Glasgow activists, MSPs have now given the green light to new powers designed to make the streets safer from pyrotechnics.
These include allowing local authorities to create “firework control zones” where it will be an offence for them to be used, either by professionals or the public.
Campaigner Danny Phillips was among those spearheading the call for change following terrifying scenes of firework misuse in Pollokshields in 2018.
But he said the legislation will “not be worth the paper it’s written on” without immediate action from Glasgow City Council.
Danny said: “The legislation is not a full ban on fireworks, but if used properly we can ban the scourge of fireworks in areas where we have real problems.
“This is an admission that fireworks should be banned in particular areas, so the onus now moves to Glasgow City Council to identify areas where fireworks need to be banned and ensure local people know about the bans.
“We also need reassurance from the police that they will act immediately if they are called by locals.
“Otherwise it’s not worth the paper it’s written on.
“We’ll be writing to the council immediately calling on them to ban fireworks in Pollokshields, Govanhill and other areas that have issues with fireworks.
“Susan Aitken now needs to step up and use this legislation as intended to pull together communities and the police to ensure it’s enforced properly.
“We hope to hear from Ms Aitken in the next few days what her plans are for November 5.”
Pollokshields has been a hotspot for some of the worst firework misuse in the city around November 5.
But the situation came to a head in 2018 when Bonfire Night saw gangs set off pyrotechnics in the street, injuring a young child and firing rockets at police.
The community came together to call on politicians and police to do more to stop the dangerous gang activity.
A fireworks ban would involve using legislation reserved to Westminster – but changes have now been made to the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill that severely limits their use in Scotland.
The Bill allows fireworks to be bought and used by members of the public only at certain times of the year, such as November 5, Hogmanay, Chinese New Year and Diwali.
A new licensing system means members of the public will
need a licence to buy and use fireworks.
Businesses must now check if those buying pyrotechnics have a licence.
It also becomes an offence to give fireworks to a child or buy them on behalf of a child.
Crucially for campaigners, councils can establish firework control zones where it will be an offence for fireworks to be used other than in a firework display or for essential purposes.
Danny added: “The next step in this is that councils need to introduce and enforce those firework control zones.
“If Pollokshields doesn’t become a no-fireworks zone then the whole thing is a farce but the council needs to have these no fireworks zones in Govanhill, Pollokshields, Pollok.
“The community also needs to know that when they call the police, the police will come out and take action, that they are living in a no-fireworks zone and that they now have rights to stop people setting off fireworks and if they ring the police the police have to come out and deal with it.
“This legislation is a victory for community campaigners and for campaigns in communities like Pollokshields.”
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: “Although the fireworks bill has now passed, it is still to receive Royal Assent and be formally enacted.
“We will be studying the legislation closely to understand what implications it may have for the council.”
Opposition politicians have complained that the Bill will force firework use underground and lead to stockpiling or a black market.
But community safety minister Ash Regan said: “The Bill balances the legitimate right to use fireworks and pyrotechnics with the need to protect public safety.
“Without the protection this Bill provides many people and animals will continue to be deeply affected by the use and deliberate misuse of fireworks and pyrotechnics.
“Without the additional restrictions proposed by this Bill people will continue to suffer life-changing injuries, with many requiring months of physical and psychological aftercare.”
Police Scotland was approached for comment.