City rally after firework campaign gets PM backing

Campaigners behind a long-running drive against the anti-social use of fireworks in Bradford have appealed to the community to join them because "we no longer want our city to be known for fireworks nuisance".

The plea came after Andy Burnham said there was "a case for going further on fireworks and regulating them" during his first Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday.

Inayah Sher, who has campaigned on the issue for almost a decade, said hearing the prime minister discuss fireworks in Parliament had given her "a real sense of relief" and renewed hope that tougher action could soon follow.

Campaigners plan to hold a demonstration on 12 September in the city centre as part of their push.

The government is currently consulting on proposals to restrict public access to noisier fireworks, add products considered unacceptably dangerous to the banned list and review regulations covering lower-risk pyrotechnics.

It does not propose banning all public sales, while louder products would remain available for professional displays.

The consultation closes on 7 October.

During Prime Minister's Questions, Spen Valley Labour MP Kim Leadbeater asked what action the government was taking to support people dealing with anti-social behaviour.

She referred to speeding and dangerous driving, the inappropriate use of e-scooters and off-road bikes, and fireworks.

Mr Burnham said the MP was speaking for "many people at home".

"I think there is a case for going further on fireworks and regulating them," he said.

"We should not accept that this is just the daily norm in communities."

Sher had raised the impact of late-night fireworks when she met Burnham in Bradford alongside fellow campaigners from the Bradford4Better group.

"In the past, I've written to a few prime ministers, and at last, I feel that a prime minister has actually listened," she said.

"We need to send a collective message that we will no longer put up with this," she added.

Pressure has been growing nationally for action after increasing numbers of communities have raised the issue of late night wedding-related fireworks in particular, with the risk of wildfires also linked to fireworks by some.

Campaigner Shahid Islam, from Bradford4Better, said existing laws had not prevented fireworks from disturbing neighbourhoods and argued that both legislation and enforcement needed to be strengthened.

He described what he believes is a "copycat syndrome mentality", in which fireworks at one wedding or celebration encouraged others to do the same.

"Before you know it, it's spiralled out of control and now everybody seems to want to do it," he said.

"Unless we find a way to sort this now, then I think it will just carry on, and that's why I think without [stronger] legislation there's no way forward."

Islam said the problem had been overlooked for too long, and urged people to attend next weekend's protest at Norfolk Gardens.

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