Thousands sign petition for fireworks problem in Bradford

The local authority reiterated its commitment to try to get tougher laws in place to deal with an issue that has blighted the city and wider district for years.

Councillor Kamran Hussain, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety, said: “Residents and councillors across the district are rightly angry about the anti-social use of fireworks.

“Nuisance noise from fireworks is a recurring problem in many parts of the district, not just on Bonfire Night and New Year’s Eve, but also through them being used in wedding celebrations or as a symptom of anti-social behaviour.”

The remnants of fireworks in Bradford (Image: Telegraph & Argus) He added that “a minority of people” choose to ignore the law banning fireworks being let off after 11pm at most times through the year, and “cause problems”.

But the councillor outlined that tougher laws “can only be made possible by changes to national legislation”, which the local authority has asked MPs to lobby the government for.

The council also says there are logistical problems behind enforcement - identifying the person “lighting the blue touch paper” and then reaching the location before the fireworks end.

It comes on the back of a petition, that was started by community stalwart Inayah Sher at the start of last month on Change.org, reaching 6,176 signatures, at the time of writing.

A total of 1,672 signed the petition on Tuesday.

Ms Sher, a businesswoman and founder of Bradford4Better, and the petition’s backers, are calling on the council to take immediate action against late-night fireworks.

She said: “We, the undersigned residents of Bradford, respectfully submit this petition to express our deep concern regarding the ongoing disturbances caused by fireworks in our community.

“The actions of lawless individuals disrupt the peace for many.”

Fireworks are often used for events such as Bonfire Night and New Year's Eve, as well as religious celebrations, like Diwali (Image: Pixabay) The petition puts forward two methods of dealing with the problem.

The first is the introduction of silent fireworks and a ban on the use of noisy fireworks except during specific celebrations such as Bonfire Night, Diwali, Chinese New Year, and New Year’s Eve.

It also calls for the council to impose “significant fines” of up to £10,000 if individuals are caught setting off fireworks late at night.

Yobs pictured in October 2019 firing roman candle rockets into the street and at shops (Image: UGC) Ms Sher said: “We have heard stories from mothers living near wedding venues where fireworks are set off after midnight.

“One mother approached a wedding venue to ask them to stop, only to be told it is part of the wedding package and they cannot comply.”

The council says its officers are working collaboratively with wedding venues to talk about the problem, in a bid to take fireworks out of wedding festivities.

Neighbourhood wardens also visit properties where there are signs of weddings taking place and advise them about the impact fireworks have on the community.

If you want to sign the petition, head here: change.org/NoLateNightFireworks.