Firework fears for farm
FARMER IS WORRIED DISPLAY WILL SCARE HER ANIMALS
Reporter HORSES and cattle could be left traumatised, a farmer says, after a fireworks display was planned close to her farm.
Anne Thompson and her husband Ian, of Gloucester Lodge Farm, in Blyth, say they were horrified when they noticed a sign announcing a firework display – just a few hundred metres away from fields where they keep more than 100 animals.
The town’s firework festival is set to take place on Saturday at the Mermaid Car Park, near Blyth Beach.
But Anne says it will put explosives just 800m away from her 80 young cows and 24 horses.
When the Thompsons contacted the council to raise their concerns, Anne said officers told her they hadn’t initially realised any animals were kept on her farm.
Despite apologising for the mistake, they now insist the show will be perfectly safe for the livestock. But Anne is worried. She said: “When it comes down to animal welfare, there are serious concerns here, it’s quite upsetting.”
The loud bangs and bright lights could scare both the horses and the cows.
Anne claims there’s a risk that terrified cows could break out of their enclosure, while stress can cause long-term health and behaviour issues in horses.
The horses at Gloucester Lodge Farm are owned by families who pay to stable them there, with some worth over £8000, so if they are hurt or traumatised, Anne said it could have a serious effect on her business.
Some of the owners are even considering sedating their horses during the display.
Anne said: “I don’t want the people of Blyth to miss out on their firework display, I’m not being a killjoy at all, I just honestly have a serious worry about the animals on this farm. I don’t really think we were taken account.
“I know we won’t be able to stop it this year – but the way it’s progressing, I’m worried this will happen there year after year.
“We’ve had events near the farm into before, sometimes at army events there will be cannon or artillery, but that’s maybe one cannon blast, it’s nothing like 30 minute of non-stop fireworks going off above the stables.” Blyth Town Council insist the event has been organised “with safety in mind”, and say the pyrotechnics will be pointed in the direction of the sea. A spokesperson said: “We have consulted the Governments’ Animal Plant Health Agency for advice as well as local animal health officers from Northumberland County Council and an equine veterinary specialist who all stated that the festival is situated far enough away at over half a mile from farm in question as not to cause undue distress to any animals. “Noise levels will be monitored carefully on the night as we have done previously when other events have taken place in the area which have been much louder than the fireworks event. “We hope that anyone worried about their animal’s welfare will have had sufficient advance notice of the firework display times to allow them to put their own personal plans in place for their animals.” Anne Thompson