Guest Posted November 1, 2007 Share Posted November 1, 2007 Organised displays are even louder True - but they're not usually in the middle of a housing estate! nor do they start at about 4pm and finish after midnight and go on for days on end! I've signed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 Most definately signed and passed on. Whilst i accept that there are some responsible peole who have safe displays, i don't see why those people can't go to an organised display. It's got to be cheaper than buying your own fireworks. Every year we go to the firework competition at Stanford Hall which is held in August and is in the middle of nowhere. Four professional teams give roughly 10 minute displays each, set to music. The fireworks are of the quality used in the displays you see in London or other big cities on the news. Everyone takes a picnic, you can even have gazebos. Huge picnic tables are set up as people tend to turn up with their extended family and friends in tow. There is a wonderful atmosphere, everyone sits down to watch the fireworks and the bangs aren't that loud as it interferes with the music that the displays are set to. Anyway, my daughter wore ear defenders when she was smaller. There are even Hen parties some years. In Leicester there are firework shops who sell them all year round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 I have signed too. Best idea I have heard of in a long while Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 Whilst i accept that there are some responsible peole who have safe displays, i don't see why those people can't go to an organised display. It's got to be cheaper than buying your own fireworks. Well I don't see why I should have to go to an organised display rather than be allowed the once or twice a year in my own backyard. The neighbours never complained, in fact they watch and say our displays are stunning. I'd rather pay for my own than drag my kids to some public display where there is nowhere to park for ten miles on the day and where I will constantly worry about losing my kids in the crowd. I'm not good with crowds anyway, I get kind of claustrophobic... I wouldn't petition to stop anyone else doing anything, I like the thought of free yet responsible people, and I am no way ready to see anyone forbidding me something just because some people are careless or inconsiderate... if that was the case none of us in cities would have chooks because of the racket they make (and don't tell me chooks are quiet, they are most definitely NOT, and they make a racket all year round). As for frightened pets, I have lots of pets myself, and I have not noticed any trauma... If fireworks were restricted to certain dates pet owners would be able to plan and keep their pets indoors and safe on the dates. My third daughter was dead frightened of fireworks for the first four years of her life and burst into tears each time she heard the slightest bang, which was often in november, and never once did I think they should be banned! I will thouroughly enjoy my very loud display tomorrow in my own back garden! Might make it twice as long in case they get banned by next year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 I too dont think they should be banned completely. Just restricted to what time of year you can buy them and also maybe a high age limit on those who can purchase them. From when I was knee high one of my favourite nights has been bonfire night. We always used to go to our local village display which we could walk to which was organised by the local primary school. This stopped about 4 years ago because of the high public liability costs (they couldnt afford to do it). Down here in rural Devon most/nealy all of the small public displays have stopped. Therefore if me and my family wish to enjoy fireworks we would have to do a 40 mile round trip to say somewhere like Exeter, this venue would be HUGE, crowded, no where to park, and very expensive. We went to a rugby club one about 3 years ago and it cost us £25 for 4 of us and it was rubbish and went on for literally 5 minutes. The last 3 years we have been doing our own displays in my nan's back garden (she has a bigger garden than us ) We invite the whole family, I cook some nice food and we can watch the fireworks from the comfort of the kitchen (for those who get chilly!) or in the garden. This year we have bought an assorted box of fireworks for £40 and considering there will be over 10 of us this will be cheaper than if we went out to watch. I wouldnt be happy if fireworks were banned completely to the general public, as we use them safely, for one night only and we enjoy them immensely. As with most things its the stupid careless morons that ruin things for the rest of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 My best idea would to have particular days for fireworks to be allowed such as new years, 5th nov, etc but to also have it so you can apply to have a license for special occasions which would involve one person being certified to do the fireworks and of course only certain places would get it such as secluded hotels for weddings rather than houses in the middle of housing estates. That way fireworks could also be used at larger events such as carnivals etc. I agree Bron. People could also apply to their local councils to put on small, local displays in their immediate area at a local recreation ground, or similar. In Leicestershire, they do hold the big displays, but there are also some great small ones in the surrounding villages. Being restricted to certain days would solve the constant noise issue, and by having license only displays it would certainly prevent people being totally irresponsible. It is a more easily controllable issue, unlike drink drivers and irresponsible dog owners. It's a tough debate this one, and I can see both sides to the argument. Of course, all of us here I imagine have the same level of high standards when it comes to safety and respect for others, so it's not an argument that really applies to us on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 I've sent the link out to everyone I know, one friend works the RSPCA so she should be able to get a fair few signatures I should think! I've also sent it to all on my friends list on 'myspace'. The issue for me is the fact they go on for days on end, before and after the 5th November and at stupid times of the day- for example some idot started setting them off on a field behind us after midnight last night! I have a heart problem and never mind the chooks, I could do without horrible loud bangs going off when I'm trying to sleep! Not to mention worrying about the girls. Sorry if it rains on other people's parade who use them sensibly but something needs to be done to curb these idiots so I'm passing this on to as many people as possible!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 We've talked about fireworks already here but just wanted to say I have signed and they should be licensed, so if you want to have a display at home you get a license for a partic night only and you have toby law finish at a certain time and notify neighbours. Every time I see them for sale in my local country store next to horse dog and cat stuff I heave a big sigh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 Our local corner shop is now selling them "Buy one get one free" which in our area can only mean trouble. I do understand both sides of the argument but when i see my normally brave cat reduced to a quivering wreck then i just wish they were banned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 Our local corner shop is now selling them "Buy one get one free" which in our area can only mean trouble. So is my local Tesco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 When I was a kid we had fireworks that looked pretty but were virtually silent. Exactly. Does anyone object to QUIET fireworks - all those pretty colours. I think not. So a ban on fireworks that make too much noise would satisfy 99% of the population. There will always be idiots who abuse them, but they shouldn't hinder the enjoyment of the overwhelming majority. It would be 'easy' to enforce. Spot check purchases could be tested. Distibutors of noisy fireworks fined etc. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 I wouldn't mind (wouldn't love it either, but would happily accept) having them restricted, to the weekend before and after bonfire night, and new year's eve... Hopefully that should give pet owners not too long a time to have to restrain their pets, as it's true that sometimes the private displays explode out of nowhere in the middle of any week around bonfire night... I'm all for balance... no ban, but directives to keep everybody happy I'm with this. I don't mind the odd night, but it is for weeks on end. It used to be just the weekends either side of Bonfire night when I was little. Maybe it was a quietish area? It;'s the school at the top of my road that annoys me, as they have a display with no warning that is so loud it is like gunfire and you can feel the vibrations in the house. We get no warning... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 there are some other interesting petitions on that site if you care to browse, I've just signed another one about being against the repeal of the hunting act. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/antihunting/ worryingly, the pro hunting mob have a petition on there with thousands of signatures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 If you want a laugh it is worth looking at the list if rejected petitions. There are some worrying people out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 We have been to a local organised display where the bonfire was so big that you couldn't get anywhere near ir for heat and it was a very windy night I was terrified also if anything had happened it would have been very hard to get away. We now have a few fireworks on our allotment then watch the big display from a distance. I do think that fireworks should only be sold for a few days before 5th Nov and new year, and that the offers on huge fireworks that no one in suburbia has a big enough garden to let off safely should be stopped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 I've signed it, purely in the hope that it will bring about a debate on the subject if enough people sign. I appreciate that everyone on this forum is sensible with fireworks, but in built up areas there are many who are not, and the Police don't bother with these 'rogues' as they are always up to something anyway. A few years ago, one such person lived opposite me and on bonfire night he set off lots of fireworks on the pavement. Of course they were going all over the place and I did wait for the bang of my car going up in smoke which fortunately did not happen. I usually find remains of spent fireworks in my garden, there is usually a stick from a rocket by the back door, and this has put me off even going into the garden to watch them . I don't live in a 'rough' area either. I like the idea that some of you have put forward of licensing and only selling the fireworks between certain dates and hope this petition goes some way to starting a parliamentary debate about the subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 yobs put them in wheelie bins sometimes, it was in my local paper last year. That causes horrific damage. I also found a spent one on top of my car last year, thankfully it hadn't scorched or scratched the paintwork but who would have had to fork out for the damage if it had, me that's who!!!! If you don't like huge organised displays, get together with neighbours and have one on a field or bit of waste ground near you. That's what happened when I was little, our house backed onto a playing field and all the neighbours got together and built the bonfire (the dads did anyway) then the mums made treacle toffee and baked spuds, it was brilliant and the fireworks were never as loud as they are today back then. I know lots of local pubs hold small events too, you don't HAVE to go to massive displays, you can find small local organised events. If that happened and these events were licensed and the fireworks distributed by the council then we'd avoid so much of the agony we go thru each year. My big concern is yobs getting hold of f/works, specially the loud bangers and using them at all times of the day and night and for days on end which is happening NOW and that won't stop until there is some sort legislation or action from the government or the police with support and lobbying from the public! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlass Posted November 2, 2007 Author Share Posted November 2, 2007 [quote=" I like the idea that some of you have put forward of licensing and only selling the fireworks between certain dates and hope this petition goes some way to starting a parliamentary debate about the subject. I agree and think that this would be an agreeable compromise...didn't mean to anger anyone by posting the link but perhaps I see/hear more about the suffering of animals in particular as I am married to Vet. Thanks to you all for taking the time to look even if you didn't sign the petition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlass Posted November 2, 2007 Author Share Posted November 2, 2007 Ooohhh don't know why my last post has come up twice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 You must have pressed submit twice without realising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 I have deleted the extra one for you Chickenlass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueSteve Posted November 5, 2007 Share Posted November 5, 2007 have signed and forwarded! My local MOrrisons was selling them bogof yesterday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KTee Posted November 5, 2007 Share Posted November 5, 2007 (edited) Even one massive organised display is bad enough - the main problem is that so many fireworks are 'battle standard' nowadays, but there is a large pub a few hundred yards from us and they have had a huge display for the last 3 nights. The do the same most years but this is the first where we have had chickens. Currently it is like The Somme. Our hens had a 10 week marathon of laying 277 eggs between them but that stopped abruptly on the day after the first disply. If organised displays are to be allowed then I suggest that they should be restricted to not more than 1 in any 7 day period. Edited November 6, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted November 5, 2007 Share Posted November 5, 2007 You think these "Garden" fireworks are bad? Category 4 fireworks, the professional ones are louder, bigger and brighter, but luckly, only the pros can use them. (these include bangers too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KTee Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 You think these "Garden" fireworks are bad? Category 4 fireworks, the professional ones are louder, bigger and brighter, but luckly, only the pros can use them. (these include bangers too) Sadly those are the type let off just up the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
