Spontaneous firework displays could become a thing of the past if Ilkley Parish Council adopts a new set of guidelines.

A proposed voluntary code of practice would mean anyone planning a display other than at New Year, Christmas, Boxing Day or Guy Fawkes' Night would have to apply for permission six weeks in advance.

The draft document, put together by Councillor Gerald Goldsbrough, also recommends that all displays be 'licensed' by the parish council.

Coun Goldsbrough wrote the report in response to the upset caused by several late night firework events last year, some of which woke people living more than a mile from the scene.

The plans were debated by a smaller than usual meeting of the parish council last week - with the treacherous road conditions preventing several councillors from attending.

The main points in Coun Goldsbrough's paper recommend:

* Fireworks would be acceptable at times up to and including midnight on December 25 and 26, January 1, and November 5

* They should also be permitted until 11pm from the weekend before, until two weeks after November 5.

* At all other times of the year six weeks' notice of a display must be given to the parish council, and the event well advertised

* Displays except those on January 1, November 5, and December 25 and 26 must end at 11pm

* Displays, small and large, must be under some form of licensing run by the parish council

* There be no restrictions on 'silent' fireworks as they 'cause no offence'.

But Coun Brian Mann argued that the suggested six weeks' notice might be 'a little Draconian'.

"There needs to be room for a little bit more spontaneity," he said.

Coun Michael Exley also questioned the wisdom of including Christmas Day and Boxing Day among the 'special celebration' dates.

He said: "These are religious celebrations for the Christian faith. May we not be in danger of appearing a little narrow minded here? What about Ramadan, or the Chinese New Year?"

Coun Goldsbrough responded by arguing that the line had to be drawn somewhere. He said: "Anyone who wants to have a firework display for Ramadan, or the Chinese New Year or whatever can give us the notice and just let us know.

"You can't go through every religion in the world and include their days because you would end up with every day of the year being a religious celebration."

Coun Pat Stephenson, however, pointed out that since Britain was a multi-cultural country the wording in the code would have to change.

Coun Mann, on the other hand, said one way around the problem would be to limit the automatically permitted times to only November 5 and January 1.

"Bonfire Night and New Year's Day are the two traditional times when we have fireworks," he said.

Speaking after the meeting, Coun Goldsbrough accepted that amendments taking into account the concerns of his colleagues would be added to the next draft of the document.

And he acknowledged that as the code was voluntary, its effect would be limited.

"Under this particular code everything would be purely voluntary. We are suggesting it as a means of producing an end effect," he said. "If people don't go along with it we don't have powers to enforce it, which is why I'm also saying to the council that we

could go for a by-law at the same time.

"The voluntary code should improve matters but if we use it as a basis for a by-law then that would be something that could be enforced."

Chairman-elect Coun Kate Brown concluded the debate by suggesting the matter be

discussed more fully at the

next meeting of the parish

council.

She said: "We are so few in number tonight and this is such an important issue that it is important we get it right."

Coun Goldsbrough has also given a copy of the proposals to Ashlands Veterinary Centre, which is collecting signatures for a petition to restrict firework use to protect pets, for comment.