To think fireworks and firework displays should become a thing of the past?

[Spockynocky]

I love fireworks but if we are all being asked to do our part regarding the climate crisis I think councils should stop putting on displays and fireworks shouldn’t be sold for home use.

They’re wasteful in terms of cost when councils struggle to remain solvent. They’re a hazard both physically and psychologically for wildlife and pets.

They look pretty but so do a lot of things that are damaging the environment. I think councils should use the fact that for the last few years covid restrictions have meant displays have been cancelled to make this permanent. The bonfires at these displays are also damaging to the air quality and wildlife. I think we need to change how 5th November is remembered. I also think that Light Nights also are so wasteful. Especially with the cost of electricity. Our council have just put one on with the theme of Back To Nature. It seemed rather incongruous to celebrate the natural world which is under threat from mans use of fuel to light up the city.

I love 5th November and light night. They brighten a miserable time of year but think they’re no longer viable or responsible.

Banned for public sales. Organised display is fine.

As a livestock owner they are a menace. Especially with those who have sheep in lamb. The stress can kill.

The same could be said about motor racing, most leisure use of petrol/diesel powered vehicles, holidays abroad, public art etc etc.

Where do you draw the line?

I'd support public displays under licence only, and for offsetting with planting of trees, other measures, but an outright ban, no.

Doubt the environmental impact is a lot relative to lots of other, more everyday things, eg plastic packaging, ‘fast fashion’.

Agree they’re harmful to animals.

I dislike and avoid home displays. Have witnessed several accidents over the years. Enjoy organised displays.

I love fireworks and think they are magical to watch. In my country, there are only organised displays, private fireworks use is banned, as is the purchase and selling of fireworks privately, and the organised displays take place on beaches (away from.domestic pets) which are cleaned the next morning. That seems a good compromise to me.

[quote Hopeisallineed]@Whinge where on earth do you live?[/quote]
In the Midlands, but I really don't think it's location specific. I'm sure my area isn't the only one to experience months of the bloody things.

I think sales of of fireworks to the general public should be stopped and organised displays allowed only 😁

Means they are only let off certain days a year, safer for animals and means no injuries and less drain on emergency services

I live in Lewes so no I don't agree with you.

I think fireworks are completely boring and I don’t see the point. I think they should be limited to public displays only. But I’m not sure they should be banned completely. I think displays should be cut down in size. They’re too big, go on far too long and are wasteful. New Year’s celebrations are worse. I think they could be stopped / greatly shortened and a light display done instead.

@Whinge same here, NW. and not just setting them off, lighting them and throwing them in shops/cars/nursing homes. My living room carpet was destroyed and well, the person who chucked it in my window wasn't found so muggins here had to fork out for a replacement carpet, light, decorating...

@Whinge I think it might be, nothing here except organise bonfire night. One night only but I live rurally.

Definitely ban them from public sale

But keep public (once a year displays) that are really well organised - on the 5th November

I love the new year ones in London but I think they should stop now in favour of light shows like they did last year on tv - that was really good. And I've gone to the fireworks for 3 years running before Covid

I think we're reducing a lot by doing that

Not banned, no. Only available for organised displays with a licence, that I would support.

I am a pet owner BTW, a cat and a dog. My cat gets kept inside and I have worked on desensitisation with my dog, so she isn't so anxious about them anymore. Some owners are too lazy to do this, and expect others to change their actions rather than do some basic training.

Organised displays would keep this to certain dates (5th Nov and the weekends either side if midweek, the weekend of if 5th falls on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday) Making organisations hold a licence would mean they could be fined for not having the right safety measures in place etc.

Your bit about council finances is irrelevant, so many councils have nothing to do with fireworks displays these days - if yours does fund one, you need to tackle that with them directly.

@KingsleyShacklebolt

Of course they shouldn't be banned. The sale of fireworks has been greatly restricted over recent years, but every year we get the same moaning.

Fireworks are colourful, joyous and FUN.

Not to me they're not, to me (and others) they are fucking terrifying. On evenings around November 5th when they're being let off constantly all evening, I spend hours feeling scared, shaking, sometime crying, trying to keep myself sort of calm and trying to stop myself having a panic attack. Occasional ones I can cope with. A half hour of a planned display, with a known finish time I can manage. From 5pm, non stop and with no known finish time I can't.

I don't have a problem with organised displays for specific events, held on the day or the nearest weekend, but personal use of fireworks needs to end. No garden displays (and the government could ban garden bonfires at the same time).

[quote Hopeisallineed]@Whinge I think it might be, nothing here except organise bonfire night. One night only but I live rurally.[/quote]
I suspect you're in the minority with this. One night and just an organised display must be pretty unusual. If it was the same round here maybe i'd feel differently, but unfortunately it's constant explosions, at stupid times for months on end.

Cactus1982 Tue 26-Oct-21 07:58:48
YANBU. I can’t believe that anyone over a certain age can still walk into a shop and buy fireworks. They are banned from public sale in a lot of European countries and Australia to. Should be the same here, keep them for organised displays only.

This i agree.

Organised displays are fine and great fun.

I’m amazed at the amount of people who seem to have a hugely inflated idea of how important the U.K. is in relation to climate change - it’s not, and most of the things that people spout on about on mumsnet ‘to make a difference to the climate’ is just pointless virtue signalling.

And good point above from pp about motor sport. The amount of noise and disruption caused to wildlife by motocross every weekend is far worse than any properly organised firework display which, by definition, are generally few and far between and only 20 to 30 mins long if that!

And fireworks displays are getting more environmentally friendly all the time with the use of lasers and drones etc.

They definitely should not be on sale in shops. Even with an age restriction, there are always kids chucking them around and it seems like it goes on from
Halloween until NYE.

[quote NotMyCat]@Whinge same here, NW. and not just setting them off, lighting them and throwing them in shops/cars/nursing homes. My living room carpet was destroyed and well, the person who chucked it in my window wasn't found so muggins here had to fork out for a replacement carpet, light, decorating...[/quote]
I'm sorry to hear this. It seems in recent years those using them as weapons for destruction and damage has increased. We had instances of fireworks being strapped to cats in recent years, sadistic bastards.

Yep, I cannot understand how it's possible to pop into a supermarket, buy some bread, milk and forty packets of gunpowder.

Public displays only and bought under licence.

They should be silent, and the general public banned from buying them.

Fireworks are beautiful

Bring so much joy (though I am scared of them too)

Anything else we should cancel ? Christmas ( the lights use unnecessary electricity too much electricity used) New Year (too much alcohol consumed, alcohol needs to get to the shops this uses too much fuel) Easter (people eat too much chocolate that can lead to diabetes pressure on the NHS), bank holidays (too many people at the beach and some take home pebbles from the beach which can be disastrous as I’ve read on MN)

I agree with you. I always loved them but the environmental impact concerns me,along with other reasons. Many dogs are terrified by them, they frighten wildlife, can be frightening and confusing for people with dementia and ptsd etc. Overall I thing they do more harm than good.

Maybe.
Private home use should certainly be banned.

It's left to people like me to litter pick the debris all winter.