To not want a NYE fireworks display outside my front door?

[flowerytaleofNewYork]

ARRRGGHH!!

Am fuming. DH took the dog out for a walk this morning and happening to notice a poster up advertising a big fireworks display to take place on our street on New Year's Eve, and inviting the whole town.

He went on the Community Association website and discovered that it was accurate, and there is a plan for a big event on our road and everyone is invited to bring their NYE parties along for the fireworks.

For background, we live on one of the mainish roads in our small town/large village. The road is about 3/4 residential, with 5 or 6 commercial properties as well, a chemist, hairdresser, etc. It's next to the river, hence the choice. However there is a big field elsewhere in the village that can be and is usually used for this type of event.

Because our house is right opposite the river, the event will be literally outside our door, with hundreds of people, mostly drunk probably, and extremely loud fireworks. We have two small children and a puppy.

At no point have residents been consulted about this at all, and we only found out about it by accident this morning, otherwise we would have been non the wiser.

AIBU to be absolutely fuming?

DH has rung the Community Association this morning and been completely and unapologetically fobbed off.

[valiumredhead]

You'll be indoors with your door shut won't you?

[CwtchesAndCuddles]

Op I think you are getting a hard time!!!

You should have been consulted as the event is so close to your home. It is so easy for everyone on here to be flippant but I'm sure most of them would have something to say if it affected them.

I would be very pissed off to find out about it by accident too!

[MerylStrop]

You should have been consulted
That is a cock up
And why they are fobbing you off
I'd seek assurances about any H&S concerns but be prepared to go along and have an ace time.

But do you really put your kids to bed before the bells on NYE?

[flowerytaleofNewYork]

Oh I see, well yes probably indoors, but I'd count that as being there! Sorry I thought you meant we wouldn't be at home/would be away or something.

We don't even have double glazing.

Chaotic given their approach so far I'd be surprised if there's any offer of compensation for damage.

[WorraLorraTurkey]

Of course they've done risk assessments, they wouldn't have got their public liability insurance without it.

[flowerytaleofNewYork]

Er, well yes I put my kids to bed on NYE. They are 5 and 3! Do others keep them up that long, really? Am I unusual? They wouldn't physically manage to stay awake that long even if I tried, and they have plenty of years ahead of them to stay up.

[valiumredhead]

Ds is 11 and last year was the first year he stayed up, wouldn't have been able to keep his eyes open when he was younger, not unusual ime OP.

[fiftyval]

I am not commenting on whether Yabu or not but whoever is organising this event will have to have done a risk assessment. They will have to have public liability insurance and will probably need to have consulted the local authority's licensing department - particularly as it will be a noisy event.
Perhaps if you asked the organisers to see their risk assesment they may be able to reassure you on some of your concerns eg crowd control etc as it will have to be covered by the RA. They must have done this as they can be sued in the event of anything going wrong. You could also check with the local authority that they are aware of the evnt too.

[kinkyfuckery]

Is there a picture of the layout on the website?

[flowerytaleofNewYork]

Thanks fiftyval, will certainly ask to see the RA and check with the local authority, think DH was going to check with them this morning anyway.

No picture I'm afraid kinky.

[MerylStrop]

oh, mine have always stayed up.....most of my friend kids seem to as well, even the tinies

YANBU to be pissed off about it. The organisers have been very inconsiderate. But you may have to try to make the best of it.

[PlaySchool]

Who owns the land? Has it been used for community events before? Village Green?

[flowerytaleofNewYork]

It's a road Playschool, so owned by the council or whoever owns roads. I'm assuming the plan is to shut the road to traffic. There is a park/recreation ground the other side of the river, and I'd not be bothered about it being there, I'd be resigned to it as being fair enough, although there's not been fireworks there before.

But the publicity and the Community Association are clear that it's on the street rather than over the other side on the park.

There is a bit of the pavement outside the house which we technically own according to our deeds.

[CaroleService]

They should have obtained a Temporary Events Notice from the local council, I would have thought: these only cover events under 500 people anyway. Also, there may be local laws prohibiting drinking in the street which wouldn't be overridden by the TEN .

The police have to be consulted about this sort of event, too.

So you could ask the council and the police licensing liaison officer.

[flowerytaleofNewYork]

The recreation ground over the other side of the river isn't lit which I presume is why it's not there.

[flowerytaleofNewYork]

DH asked the community association person whether they'd informed/involved the police and it was clear they hadn't, from the fumbling answer they gave.

Not heard of TENs, thanks Carole

[doublecakeplease]

I'd love it - would be perched at an upstairs window with a glass of fizz with DP (ds slept through the fireworks we let off in the garden so would prob Miss those too - he's 10 months) and any friends / family who wanted to gatecrash the ringside view :-) I think you're a tiny bit 'bah humbug' - it's 1 night, just enjoy it!

[ThalianotFailure]

I'm surprised there wasn't any consultation (are you absolutely certain there wasn't and you missed it?) and that there are no posters on your road but . . . your DH did see a poster so you do know about it 3 weeks in advance. It won't be that bad, really. The children may well wake up in which case you can take them to the window to watch and then they'll conk out again afterwards (the fireworks will only last about half an hour), and you'll be fine inside even with loads of people going past - if it's on your street you could even take it in turns to pop out with a drink and say hi to people.

Our neighbours about 3 doors down have a huge lights and music bonfire extravaganza every year, deafening music and fireworks in their garden, for about 30 mins at 9pm. DD slept through it for the first 2 years, this year she woke so we watched through the window and she LOVED it (once she'd got used to the bangs) and then went back to sleep fine afterwards. No biggy. One night. With any luck you'll get a lie-in the next morning!

[PessaryPam]

In our village they let fireworks off in the street, (very middle class well behaved fireworks), and we all block the road and celebrate NY together. It's brilliant and very jolly.

Last year I recognised one of the firework-a-teers strapping a rocket launcher to a railing as one of our local surgeons!

[PlaySchool]

I didn't think you could close a road without going through a statutory process. If I were you I would phone the Highways Dept of the local council and ask if there has been a planned road closure.
It seems very odd to have a firework display on a highway!

[PessaryPam]

Ours is a spontaneous event although the local police know it's likely to happen so send a couple of their people down to join in. Never any trouble either.

[brainonastick]

Ours are 5 and 3 as well, and not especially heavy sleepers. But the one thing they do sleep through is fireworks, even when they are next door or opposite. (I wish I could, bah humbug). You might be surprised OP! If they do wake up, then you could just let them watch them, then back to bed. At least its not a school day the next day.

By the way, YANBU to think you should have been consulted or at the very least informed. That's just basic politeness.

[flowerytaleofNewYork]

"...strapping a rocket launcher to a railing.."



Dunno about statutory process for shutting road. They do stop traffic for 45 minutes or so on this road for a procession for our Gala every summer, and I imagine there'll be very little traffic at that time anyway.

It wouldn't be able to physically happen here without the road being closed to traffic, as the pavements are very narrow, with no grass verge or anything for anyone to spill on to. It would be literally spilling into the river on one side, and into our front room on the other side.

[LtXmasEve]

I appreciate that you would have liked notice, but I do think YABU, (but only a bit).

Look at it this way:

You have a free fireworks show that you can watch from the warmth and comfort of your own home.

Your children will almost certainly be sound asleep.

If your children do wake up they can watch the free fireworks in the safety and comfort of home - and you may get a lie-in the next morning!

If it is an organised display it will be safer than your neighbours setting off fireworks in their back gardens

You get to celebrate NYE without having to deal with the drunken bums.

It's the perfect opportunity to de sensitise the puppy - let him watch the fireworks and listen to the BANGs from the safety and comfort of your arms - we did this when MuttDog was a pup and she now actually comes to Fireworks displays with us - she is completely bombproof!

Love LtXmasEve - the 'Glass Half Full' individual

[ClippedPhoenix]

I do understand about you being cross due to not being informed but that's where it ends.

You and your children should enjoy such a spectacle together, why on earth should they be sleeping.

Fireworks are wonderful, they always bring a tear to my eye.

You have a PRIME spot you lucky thing.