Glasgow communities should be able to request ‘no firework zones’

A motion submitted to full council last week by green councillor Jon Molyneux asked for the new zones to be implemented in Glasgow by November 2023 at the latest as the local authority waits for its new legislative powers to be granted.

During his speech councillor Molyneux explained that where a community expresses a strong wish to have these powers used and if there is evidence it is needed, the council should consider that case very seriously.

It comes after recent legislation, set to introduce tighter controls on the sale and use of fireworks in Scotland with the local authority able to designate certain areas as “no firework zones”, was passed by parliament.

Glasgow City Council is currently awaiting further direction from Scottish Ministers as the new rules, which will include a licensing scheme to limit who is able to buy fireworks, are yet to come into effect.

Speaking about the motion, councillor Molyneux said: “This is not about stopping people’s enjoyment of fireworks, it’s about deliberate misuse. Issues such as setting off fireworks in the street, aiming them at people and property.

“These kinds of issues understandably cause real worry in communities. I know that people may be afraid to leave their homes, there is an impact on pets and it can have very serious health and safety consequences as well.”

He then thanked emergency and council services for the work carried out in Glasgow and the progress made in recent weeks in “clamping down” on the sale of illegal fireworks.

Mr Molyneux added: “We can’t stop illegal firework misuse unless we have stronger power to control the supply and use of them in our community.

“There are new powers coming and I think it is important that we get those as soon as we possibly can. They include a licensing scheme and for the council to designate areas of no firework zones where it would become an offence to set off a firework.

“We don’t know the details from the Scottish Government on how they expect those powers to work, but I do hope we can at least start to prepare on where they can be used.

“I think where a community expresses a strong wish to have these powers used and if there is evidence it is needed we should consider that case very seriously.”