To be wary of private firework displays?

[Dancergirl]

I'm actually quite surprised about my reaction to private firework displays as I'm quite a relaxed (slack!) parent about most things and tend not to worry too much about H and S issues.

BUT the thought of untrained individuals letting off explosives in their back garden fills me with dread. Why when there are so many organised displays?

Would you be happy about your child going to a back garden firework party?

[Bobyan]

Having been to an organised display last year that ended with spectators getting burnt, I wouldn't...

[thebody]

Yes any reasonably sensible adult is capable of lighting fireworks safely.

However in recent years some fireworks which should really just be for public displays have been sold for back garden fun, if people don't read the directions and act sensibly then they are twats.

Please don't let the nanny state control a few sparklers and rockets in the garden, it's FUN.

[Sirzy]

There needs to be much more restriction on firework sales IMO.

They go on sale far to early and some are way to big for your average garden.

[WorraLiberty]

We've been invited to a neighbour's fireworks party for the 6th year in a row...can't wait!

However, I do think you should have to have some sort of temporary licence to buy them and set them off on your own property - you know with T&Cs such as no alcohol and other safety conditions attached...like having the correct size garden for the fireworks you're using.

On a different note, has anyone else noticed the distinct lack of fireworks being set off early this year? I've only heard about 3 over the last week.

There was a time when the little scroats down the road and over the park would let them off and chuck them about.

I wonder if it's because they're too expensive now or if the sales are stricter?

[QuenelleIsOrangeAndGoldForNow]

I don't like private displays. I can remember at least two extremely lucky near misses in friends' back gardens when we were younger.

After Bonfire Night is the worst time, when the shops are selling them off half price.

I agree there should be more restriction.

[EnglishGirlApproximately]

What others are saying. I like private displays more than organised ones, BUT, I do think there should be restrictions on which fireworks are sold for domestic use and anything above a certain amount of explosive content should only be available to license holders.

I'm a retail manager and the storage and transportation restrictions are taken very seriously and trading standards keep a close eye on retailers selling fireworks. It seems incredible that people can then buy whatever they like with minimal knowledge of safe use.

[AmazingBouncingFerret]

Either my sister or I have the fireworks party.

I won't go to organised places.

I don't like people.

[Sirzy]

We have a pub locally selling fireworks from a big container at the front of the pub. This scares me a lot especially as the pub has quite a poor reputation locally

[freddiefrog]

I don't mind them, but I think there should be tighter restrictions somehow.

We went to a private party in a friend's pub. We didn't know until after the event, but he'd got hold of some of the big ones you see at the large organised events

One fell over, fortunately it fell backwards and the only harm done was to a neighbour's greenhouse but it scares me to think what could have happened.

[WorraLiberty]

sirzy have you told the Police or the council?

[WileyRoadRunner]

Ooh love them. My Dad does fantastic displays, it's tradition.

Admittedly I make my children watch from indoors.

[MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic]

I don't have a problem with private parties, I just have a problem with public sales. There needs to be tighter rules over selling them. I've already had to call the police over stupid teenagers throwing fireworks in our local park this afternoon. I hate this time of year.

[GoSakuramachi]

The general public can't buy fireworks in Ireland, you need to be a licensed operator. Much safer.

Of course we don't have Bonfire night anyway, so its not so noticeable.

[HoratiaWinwood]

I am underwhelmed by private displays so although I'd go to a private bonfire party (parkin, jacket potatoes, soup, etc) I would prefer to go on to or come from an organised public display.

Fireworks are expensive per bang and only worth the bother once you're spending at least £1k if not ten or a hundred times that.

[C0smos]

Private firework parties are illegal where I live, you can't buy them in the shops. There are huge petitions to get public displays banned as well due to animal distress. I live in Africa, didn't even realise fireworks still happened in the UK I'm really surprised.

[CelstialNavigation]

Unfortunately the general public in some parts of Ireland just buy them over the border instead GoSakuramachi. Or buy them illegally in Ireland. The lack of Bonfire night has never stopped anyone in our area, its all in the run-up to Hallowe'en usually and the big displays and bonfires are on Hallowe'en night.

I have noticed it hasn't started yet this year in our neighbourhood (and it was every night this time last year) so maybe they are more expensive/controlled? Thank God it's not 3 weeks of them whatever the reason.

[Sallyingforth]

I agree that sales should be restricted to licensed operators and at suitable locations like parks etc.

There is a hotel near me surrounded by housing that has regular wedding receptions. They often set off loud fireworks, which can be startling to people and animals because you don't expect them at any time around the year.

[VivaLeBeaver]

It does worry me. We went to a friends house a cople of years ago. They have a massive garden/field. Set up a cordon which everyone stayed behind. The adults had done it many times before and were very careful. A rocket came into the crowd instead of going up. Hit a young girl next to my dd in the leg, noone had time to react it was so quick. The kids had all been sat on chairs.

Luckily she was wearing leather boots and had been hit in the boot and apart from been very shook up was ok. We now watch other people's displays out the window at home.

[Wetthemogwai]

I was just about to start a thread about this, I hate fire works so much!

I saw my bf killed by one a few years ago and have never been near them since. I think they're so dangerous in even experienced hands and while they are beautiful to watch I don't see how that makes up for the expense, disruption and risk involved.
I LOVE things like that too, my house is all decorated for Halloween and I love bonfires etc so if it was just a bonfire like the name 'bonfire night' suggests with jacket potatoes, sparklers and toffe apples then that would be great but when I see children and drunk adults running round with rockets the months either side of November 5th it just makes me feel sick.

YADDDNBU

[bureni]

celstial, fireworks are also illegal in Northern Ireland as well . Members of the public can buy them but are restricted to a small quantity of small fireworks that must be bought with a token from an authorised outlet, this involves applying for a license which costs about £30 and having the firework display site inspected by the police to see if it is suitable. Few licenses get issued in built up areas. The only firework that can be bought legally without a license is a sparkler.

[bureni]

Licensing laws and firework categories in N.I (U.K)

www.saferfireworks.com/licensing/ni/license.htm

[Alisvolatpropiis]

YANBU! The only thing I hate more than a large organised display is one in someone's garden/their balcony (this happened,I ran and hid in the bathroom).

[Dancergirl]

Would definitely agree to stronger restrictions. Unbelievable that explosives can be sold to anyone.

[Woozley]

A rocket went towards the crowd at a local scouts do (basically the village's fireworks) a couple of years ago. No-one was hurt, but it did make me question how well it was being organised. We go to the bigger one in the town now, much better display anyway.

[lisad123]

We had one at my sisters one year and one fell over and shot off, very scarcy.
This year dd1 school are paying for a professional team to come and do it. We have to pay tickets but we get a hot dog