To hate the neighbours for this

[highlandspringerdog]

We live in a little street of terraced houses. Everyone knows everyone and it's usually lovely and safe. My kids are late primary school / early secondary school and I feel totally at ease letting them nip to the shop in their own, to school etc.

Acouple of years ago I arrived home from work to find neighbours were having a firework display with the bucket of fireworks in the road about 2 metres from my front door. I found out about it as I drove down the road and nearly knocked into their cocking bucket. A firework whizzed out of it into the sky when I was practically on top of it. Slammed on brakes. Did not cause enormous car based explosion. Phew.

Neighbours had all their kids milling about - including toddlers just pottering about. I could not believe it!

Parked up at the top of the street and went in my front door. Found one of my kids in tears too scared to go out the house as the fireworks were there but worried as she was meant to be meeting friend at bus stop.
Livid.

I didn't say anything to the twerp neighbours that year as I was too in intimidated - the ones that set these off are the sort of A list neighbours, all friends, go on holiday together etc. I just felt a bit shy to go and say actually can you please not have your bloody fireworks in the street.

Last year - the same. Got home, war bucket in street, fire explosions coming out of it. With a twist - they'd stuck a twisting firework to a tree right outside my house and then lit it. So this fucking thing was whizzing around in a circle with sparks flying out of it and I was stuck in my car watching, and desperately repeat calling the landline phone to tell the kids not to come out of the house. I called the police. They came just as the pricksters were finishing up their display, and told them it was fine!!!

And now it's this year.

I thought I should be brave and ask them not to do it in advance. I've spent about a month worrying about fireworks injuries v annoying the neighbours, and in the end decided not to be a wimp, but to be super friendly.

Texted neighbours. Asked could they maybe not set off fireworks in street this year but instead do in their garden. Said I totally appreciate that some people love fireworks but I found them v frightening and would really appreciate them not being in our street on the pavement or in the road. "We'll try not to do it in the street" was the answer! Followed quickly by a message asking for me to not text them again.

AIBU to wish they'd all fuck the fuck off ? And take their fireworks with them?

[highlandspringerdog]

Should say along with the "we will try" was a message saying I was going to struggle anyway as there would be fireworks in every street this week.

[Bellatrixandstrange]

Will your hose reach to the street where the fireworks are? Yanbu to just hose them away.

[ExitPursuedBySpartacus]

War bucket?

I think maybe you need to suck it up. It's bonfire night. People have fireworks.

Maybe join in. Treacle tofee? Black peas?

[MarchEliza2]

I don't understand the last bit. They texted you back to tell you not to text them again??

[QuackDuckQuack]

Wow, they're dicks. Who let's fireworks off in the street? It's obviously unsafe and antisocial. And who texts following a polite text asking not to be texted again? That's properly odd too.

[highlandspringerdog]

Yep. That's what they did. I know it's fireworks night. I know there will be fireworks everywhere. I just don't think people should set them off in the middle of the street! Like literally you're just walking down the street, and notice a black bucket in the road where cars go, and suddenly fireworks shoot out of it! I just couldn't believe it! What if I'd walked over and looked in it? What if it fell over when a car drove into it? What if one of their many totally unsupervised kids walked up to it? It just doesn't bear thinking about.

[SemiNormal]

Text them back with 'I'll try not to text you again'

FWIW I don't think you're being unreasonable. I wish fireworks were only available for purchase by licensed people for arranged displays.

[RiverTam]

I would call the police, that sounds incredibly dangerous. What a bunch of twats.

[highlandspringerdog]

I did think about a hose.

But - I am trying I maintain a nice neighbourly relationship with them. I just didn't want the fireworks in the street. No objection to them being in a garden or park or field, but just not in our actual residential street! And wanted to keep it nice with the neighbours so that when my kids are going out and about thy don't feel like all the neighbours hate us! If it was just me living here i would go and buy a mega turbo hose especially and lie in wait.
Perhaps I am a tragedy. I accept this!

[MarchEliza2]

They are more than inconsiderate- they are incredibly rude!

Surely their last text to you indicates nice neighbourly relations are unlikely to feature in the near future?

[highlandspringerdog]

True. That's out the window, which is such a shame as I really don't think I did anything wrong by asking them to please not set off mini explosive devices in a place my kids might be walking! But they are all angry with me. Got very frosty looks this morning. Tosspots.

[Willow2016]

If they start this year phone the police immediately and explain exactly what they are doing. They have no right to be putting others in danger or using your trees for their fireworks!

I am amazed that nobody has been hurt yet especially one of their kids!. What if the bucket gets knocked over by the force of the firework and the firework goes under a car? People seem to be getting more stupid by the year!

[highlandspringerdog]

True. I hope to god none of them get hurt. I'm also a bit angry with the fact that although I am not the bad guy in this situation, i am the one who everyone is angry with and not the other way around! So annoying

[BolivarAtasco]

I'm pretty much with you, OP. I don't mind fireworks at all, but all our houses are very close together and I'd rather not have to spend half the evening trying to put out smouldering rockets on my car cover and in my garden again because the neighbours have decided to have a display.

If it happens again this year I'll be having words with them. I actually wish fireworks weren't available to everyone to buy.

[raymondothegreat]

Wow I can't believe how dumb your neighbours are! What a bunch of knobs! I would ring the police and make a complaint if they arrive when its over maybe take a video on your phone to show the police how idiotic they are. What your saying is perfectly reasonable. I don't see why your neighbours can do I in there own back garden. And you have tried to be nice about and that hasn't worked. Think you need to get your 'Bitch head' on show them its not on.

[Briarthorn]

YANBU, they are selfish throbbing bellends.

And stupid. Bonfire night is tomorrow.

[DinosaursRoar]

oh god, if they are setting off fireworks in the street when the road isn't closed, it's dangerous. Just call the police and explain that they are settig them off in the actual road where cars are driving and you are afraid there's going to be an accident.

These aren't the sort of neighbours you are going to be friends with as they are clearly twats.

[ghostspirit]

i would have called non emergency police without saying anything. and then said oh who called the police. the kids were enjoying the fire works.

[PikachuSayBoo]

I'm guessing if it's terraced houses they think the yards are too small for fireworks?

But no way should they be doing it in the road.

[ThatGingerOne]

I agree, call the police - its illegal to set fireworks off in the street or in a public place.

www.gov.uk/fireworks-the-law

[highlandspringerdog]

We all have nice big gardens so would be fine to have in one of them. They prefer it in the street as then loads of them can all stand together and watch without one family having to officially "host" and have half the street in their house.... I imagine. I don't know for sure though.

[CurbsideProphet]

This is why I'm against people being able to wander into a supermarket and buy fireworks. I live in Lancs and 3 children have already been seriously injured by fireworks. OP do you live in a cul de sac or a through road? Fireworks being let off in the middle of a residential street is just ridiculous. YANBU

[highlandspringerdog]

Thank you! Yes. An actual criminal offence. and I am the bad guy for sending a text!

[highlandspringerdog]

I live in a through road. There is nothing good about this. But the neighbours remain righteous! And offended at my terrible rudeness.

[Velvetdarkness]

Can you call the non emergency line in advance and ask for advice?