Fireworks

The last few years has seen a vast increase in the availability and use of fireworks. Once, these were restricted to organised displays on or around 5th November, New Years Eve, and to mark other special occasions. Impressive firework displays in parks were worth seeing. Since deregulation of the industry and availability of fireworks, they are used more or less every week throughout the summer, and almost constantly between late October and early January. Where they are let off privately, usually in back gardens, displays last only a few minutes and must give very poor value for money.
Before I give my opinion, I must declare three facts which cloud my judgement:

• First, I own a dog, and he loathes fireworks to such an extent that every time he hears them, he is so scared that he becomes catatonic, bolts, seems on the verge of a heart attack, and will defecate in the house as he literally does not know what he is doing. While he may have had some trauma in early life (he reacts in a similar way to loud bangs and gunfire), this is not an unusual reaction among dogs.
  
• Second, I live on a new, modern estate, where there are a lot of houses (and thus back gardens) within a small area. Residents are generally reasonably affluent and can thus afford fireworks, which can be let off at any time between dusk and past midnight. I frequently find firework wrappings in my garden. There are a lot of dog owners on the estate.
  
• Third, I am a Health and Safety Officer and as such look at the dangers of fireworks in a professional manner. This makes me more inclined to try and control (but not simply ban) hazardous events.

My point is this. I do not believe that fireworks should be readily available to the general public, and I believe that their use should be limited to organised events. This is for several reasons:

• One, small firework displays cause a nuisance to neighbouring properties (often up to a mile away), are used at any time of evening or night, with no warning.
  
• Two, displays put the health and well-being of animals at risk, and curtail their freedoms, For example, in the winter I work until after dark. I have frequently arrived home with fireworks already being let off, making it impossible to properly exercise my dog, and he is upset for the whole night.
  
• Three, fireworks are inherently dangerous, and are frequently used irresponsibly. I have no figures to back up this argument, but I would be very surprised if hospital admissions from firework-related injuries have not increased since deregulation.
  
• Four, the type of display available to the average birthday party is frankly pathetic. Often, displays will only last for a few minutes at most.

Were I in any position to act, I would propose the following:

• sale of fireworks to be restricted to licensed people only;
  
• warning signs erected for a week beforehand around the display area;
  
• firework displays to be restricted to non-residential areas.