Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey has called on South Lanarkshire Council to make it easier for residents and community groups to share their concerns about the use of fireworks in their communities.
The MSP has also taken the opportunity to ask the local authority to consider making use of legislation designed to control their use.
The Scottish Government has previously given councils the powers to designate Firework Control Zones which prohibit the setting off of fireworks in those areas – other than at organised public displays.
Firework Control Zone guidance published last summer makes it clear that, where possible, local authorities should establish a local process to enable communities to state the case for a Control Zone being put into place in their area. Neighbouring local authority, Glasgow City Council, offers an online system for communities to make a request for a zone, which would then open a wider consultation process.
South Lanarkshire Council does not offer such an accessible process, making it harder for local residents to share their views and concerns.
However, while the Rutherglen MSP understands that while many people in communities in South Lanarkshire may not wish to have control zones implemented, the lack of a request system similar to those used by other local authorities may create a false impression that there is little or no desire for tighter controls – which she says runs contrary to the views of many residents who contact her on the matter.
She said: “I fully appreciate that many people in Rutherglen and Cambuslang enjoy using fireworks, and do so in a safe and responsible manner.
“However, every year many local residents contact me about the use of fireworks near their homes – sharing their concerns about pets and animals, vulnerable people, or more general concerns about public safety, our emergency services workers, and anti-social behaviour.
“The Scottish Government have given councils the powers to designate Firework Control Zones, which would restrict firework use in those areas, but a crucial part of that process is open and transparent public consultation, so it’s really important that it’s easy for communities to be able to share their views. It’s disappointing that South Lanarkshire currently lag behind other councils in this regard.
“I have written to the council to express my concerns about the lack of an accessible system to enable local residents to share their views, and urged them to follow other councils in introducing an easy to use, online process to allow communities to have their say.”
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