Nuisance fireworks 'getting out of hand' says Luton councillor

The random misuse of fireworks in Luton is becoming such an issue "it's getting out of hand", according to a borough councillor.

Hundreds of residents complained on social media last summer about nightly nuisance of fireworks exploding on some of the town's streets.

"It's causing a nuisance, as well as a risk," Labour Lewsey councillor Aslam Khan told the local authority's executive.

"We've heard about houses and garages set alight in other parts of the country, where these fireworks are more commercial," he warned.

"This problem is getting bigger and bigger unfortunately. So there needs to be some form of control.

"Whether it's New Year's Eve, a wedding or any occasion people are resorting to fireworks and it's getting out of hand.

"We need to be very clear, if someone wants to report this, who they approach and how it will be enforced.

"That needs to be explained to people, so this can be followed up and their anxieties addressed."

An update on regulations about the sale, storage and use of fireworks was presented to the council's overview and scrutiny board last month, in light of residents' concerns.

Fireworks are categorised under the explosive content, with four types as follows:

F1 ... low hazard and negligible noise and could be used indoors;

F2 ... low noise for outside use in confined areas such as a garden;

F3 ... medium hazard for outdoor use in large open areas, such as fields;

and F4 ... high hazard, intended for use only by those with specialist knowledge.

The council's service manager specialist operations Dave Stevenson explained to the board: "It's an offence to use fireworks after 11pm and before 7am except on permitted events.

"These are Bonfire Night when it's midnight, while for New Year's Eve, Diwali and the Chinese New Year the cut off is 1am."

Liberal Democrat Barnfield councillor David Franks commented on the board's findings to the executive, saying: "We've all seen an increase in the number of complaints we're getting from constituents.

"Clearly there's a huge amount of confusion out there.

"We're asking the executive to get as much information out there as possible about what the regulations are and who's responsible for enforcing them.

"The board wasn't unanimous on the encourage residents to report any misuse of fireworks. I understand the reservations some councillors had.

"But unless people knowing who's responsible report it nothing's going to change. The problem will continue and get worse.

"The council can't prosecute or take any action against people for misusing fireworks if it doesn't know who they are."

Labour Saints councillor Javed Hussain said: "We need more clarity about what responsibility comes under the council's remit and what falls within the police.

"I see a lot of frustration vented on social media that it's the responsibility of the council.

"But we should make sure it's very clear people should be calling the police because the local authority has very limited powers."

Labour Lewsey councillor Jacqui Burnett, who's the portfolio holder for place and infrastructure, said: "It's just an accepted nuisance. I don't want Luton to become like London.

"Whether they're reporting things to ourselves or the police we do need our residents to give as much information as possible, or it'll just keep simmering away."

The executive agreed four recommendations from the board, including to publicise the fireworks regulations and to encourage residents to report their misuse.