Posted By Struan
Now that the celebratory Fawkes season has come to an end,and I still can't understand why a suposedly civilised society wants to celebrate an attempt to blow up a democratic elected parliament. Attempts were made at curbing the periods of nuisance exposure to noise light etc. Not very effectively I think. But,-the bangs are definately louder by the year and, it seems, it's the "responsible adults" that enjoy them most. What about the kids, the neighbours, the pets, the elderly? What about a total ban on them for domestic use? Its been done with creosote.
Still I suppose its either fireworks or AK47s'

Posted By Stuart Nagle
Gents.

So far as I was concerned, the 5th November was actually a non-catholic celebration of the execution of the gun powder plotters (who I understand were catholics), who attempted to blow up the House of Commons in repraisal for laws made to which they were intrinsically opposed.

Of course I stand to be corrected...

Stuart

Posted By J Knight
Autumn solstice is September 21st/22nd, not October 31st, and Bonfire night isn't, as far as I know, related to any pagan festival. I don't think we need a ban; our recently deceased tom cat hated fireworks and would simply shiver through autumn, beyond any kind of human comfort. This was really painful for us but what we may need is better control on the availablitity of fireworks. Once upon a time they were only really around in shops for a couple of weeks before the beginning of November. Restoring this, along with the recent introduction of commonsense controls on size and use, would at least limit the agony and mayhem, and then we could all live with it. It would of course also limit the likelihood of injury, and return fireworks to the special status they had when I was a child. HSE publishes really good guidance on the use of fireworks by the way, HSG 123 & 124 depending on whether you are a professional pyrotechnician or just a MOTP,

John

Posted By John Webster
Zoe,

The ancient tradition of hogmanay fireworks dates back to the last century - 1999 to be precise - when the major cities of the world went to extraordinary lengths to out-do each others pyrotechnic displays (personally, I thought the Eiffel Tower was stunning) to celebrate the end of the 2nd Millennium AD, and the start of the 3rd. Shame it was all a year early!! Of course, as most of us use a Christian based calendar, even New year is a Christian event, as by rights the Winter Solstice (now Dec 21/22) is the natural turn of the year!

PS. If you find the English idea of new-year a bit dull, come up to Scotland

Posted By Jonathan Breeze
I'd heared that the new year fireworks were a plot by communist China to destroy the capitalist west by selling substandard goods which cause injury to those who attempt to use them.

Posted By Paul Graham Baskeyfield
.....& some b*gger fired a rocket into our (roofed & fenced)flammable solvent store compound!! Fortunately due to good housekeeping did'nt ignite anything!

A ban is well overdue

Posted By J Knight
Anybody had any workplace injuries from fireworks? We had a member of the public hit in the throat by an errant rocket. It caused oedema and respiratory distress so she had to be rushed to hospital and reported under RIDDOR. Manager at that site abandoned fireowrks for good after that. Still wouldn't ban them though,

John

Posted By Brian McMillan
If fireworks are banned their sale and supply will go underground - the instances of people selling illegal explosives from the back of vans in dark alleys will increase and the injury toll will rise.

Large fireworks have been around for eons, they have, however, been far too expensive to be accessible to the masses until fairly recently.

Because of technological developments and the increase in far eastern imports it is now possible to buy bigger and arguably better fireworks despite the government introducing legislation that clearly defined what could (Category 2 and 3) and could not (Category 4) be purchased by the general public at shops.

Yes there will always be the odd idiot that uses fireworks irresponsibly but they will always be in the minority. The introduction of new legislation aimed at stopping people under 18 carrying fireworks in the street this year has seen a reduction in the number of complaints a figure of 13% has been suggested by one police force

It is up to those responsible for ensuring that legislation keeps in front of technological developments and those that enforce the law to ensure that the mindless minority are not able to disrupt the lives of the majority some of who actually enjoy fireworks at any time of the year.

Posted By Merv Newman
I can't see the "back of a van" method lasting long enough to be too worrying. I would look at it rather as I look on speeding drivers : self limiting by self elimination. Evolution in action as they say.

Also, I think the awareness of firework dangers, and thus the need for safety precautions, and safe fireworks is seeping into the public conciousness.

But, what does jeremy clarkson have to say about it ? I read his piece on bullying this weekend. Says that it made a man of him.

Posted By Dave Wilson
I have to admit that Mr JC (spooky! is he related to JC?) always gives me a good laugh, a lot of what he says is said with tongue in cheek and should be taken that way.

Everything which is 'banned' by government will I believe just go underground, that said like to see fox hunting in mines! so is banning the right way to go.

Cris Moyles did say OK ban hunting with dogs! So why not use cats! A pride of lions will do just as good!!