We should forget, forget the 5th of November - Cllr
A LOCAL councillor has questioned whether Bonfire Night should be confined to the history books after firefighters detailed how this year’s celebrations led to violence, pollution and hundreds of call outs.
Baildon councillor Mike Pollard pointed out that while the celebrations might have been exciting in 1605, the annual event has proved to be a menace in recent years.
At the most recent meeting of West Yorkshire Fire Authority, repre- sentatives of the region’s five councils were given an annual report on how emergency services had coped with Bonfire Night this year.
The period saw 21 attacks on firefighters, including an incident in Bradford in which a rocket was launched at firefighter’s head.
Over four nights, crews were called out to 399 incidents, including numerous out-of-control bonfires.
And the service had to pay £37,982 in overtime to provide enough cover.
The report also revealed that a recent study by the University of Leeds found that after Bonfire Night, the levels of soot in the air of West Yorkshire’s cities is around 100 times the normal level.
Bonfire Night is held every year on November 5 to mark a failed terrorist attack on Parliament in 1605.
At the Fire Authority meeting Cllr Pollard (Cons, Baildon) said: “Councillors across the district are making worthy noises about the climate emergency, then we read that after bonfire night there is 100 times the normal level of soot in the atmosphere.
“Is it time, in our view, to call for all fireworks sales not for organised events to be banned?
“I seriously think we are getting to the point where this event should stop being celebrated.
“It is a menace, and an inappropriate use of resources.”
Dave Teggart, Area Manager, said the service always urged people to attend organised bonfire events, rather than buying their own fireworks.
He added: “Asking that firework sales are banned is something we could potentially start to look at, but there are commercial reasons why other people may disagree with that.”
Cllr Steve Tulley, chair of the committee, said: “Fireworks are the bane of my life. The big concern is the attacks on our firefighters.”
We are getting to the point where this event, should stop being celebrated.