An MSP in South Lanarkshire has written to the council to highlight constituents’ “concerns about the misuse of fireworks” and to ask about the potential for future consideration of new control zones.
Recently-introduced legislation gives local authorities the power to introduce temporary restrictions making it an offence to set off fireworks in specific designated areas, with Edinburgh becoming the first in Scotland to bring in 10-day bans for four areas of the city around Bonfire Night, and Glasgow also working to do so.
Now Clare Haughey has asked South Lanarkshire Council about work to monitor events around November 5 this year and consult with communities; with the authority saying that they have “no current plans” but are “open to discussions” with interested parties.
The Rutherglen MSP, whose constituency also includes Cambuslang and Blantyre, told in her letter how Guy Fawkes Night and the accompanying public sale of fireworks is “always a concerning time of year for many of my constituents”.
She wrote: “Concerns about the misuse of fireworks including anti-social behaviour was a key theme to emerge from the Scottish Government’s national public consultation.
“This very much chimes with the views which my constituents share with me; many are worried about the impact of fireworks on animals, particularly on pets, as well as the risks that our emergency services face each November.”
Ms Haughey asked South Lanarkshire if any work has taken place “to determine if there are any areas where firework control zones [FCZs] might be deemed appropriate, and if are there any plans to work with the emergency services and other partners to monitor the use of fireworks and any incidents or areas of concern this year”.
She also asked “how community groups and individuals can best feed any proposals which they have into the council for consideration”.
The MSP shared her letter on Facebook and posted: “I’ve asked South Lanarkshire to commit to working with communities, particularly where there are instances of fireworks being misused, to see whether the introduction of firework control zones locally would have public support.”
A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Council said: “While we have no current plans to bring in firework control zones, we are aware of the legislation and the potential for its use within South Lanarkshire.
“The council is not itself undertaking any monitoring work over the upcoming firework season, but in the normal way the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will report any notable issues with firework use to the Safer South Lanarkshire board in the first quarter of 2025 as part of its regular monitoring.
“We are, however, open to discussions with any communities, or stakeholder partners such as the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service or Police Scotland, that are interested in FCZs being brought forward for future years.”
Neighbouring council North Lanarkshire says on its website: “A local authority can consider an FCZ, or a community may request an FCZ, for the following reasons – misuse of fireworks/injuries, impact on vulnerable groups, environmental protection, animal welfare.
“A request can be made by any community group for an area to be considered as a zone; the application must be submitted by a community of residents, a community council or a welfare group, not by an individual. If an area is designated as a FCZ, members of the public aren’t allowed to use fireworks, including on private property such as a garden.
“Before any decision to designate an FCZ, the local authority must consult with those who live or work in the proposed zone, other members of the local community in or nearby, and any other persons or bodies considered to have a connection with, be interested in or affected by the proposed zone.”
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