Limit the sale and use of fireworks to organisers of licensed displays only. 

The current regulation allows for firework use everyday of the year for 16 hours a day, making it impossible to shield vulnerable pets, children and people with post-traumatic stress against the distress they can cause. Restrictions on the sale and use of fireworks should be implemented by the district council of Bromsgrove to help its residents protect their pets and vulnerable members of their family from the distress the large bangs of fireworks can cause.

The restriction of fireworks in residential areas and limiting them to organised events has huge public support within the Bromsgrove area. I personally spoke and read the comments of over 200 dog owners in Bromsgrove and only 8 said that fireworks do not indeed upset their pets. One lady told me that she had to take her dog to the vet to be sedated as it was absolutely petrified. 

Not only are fireworks distressing to pets, but they are distressing to other animals and many animals rights organisations have called in vain for this to be addressed by central government. 

Other groups that suffer from the random nature of fireworks include children with autism or learning difficulties. A mother has told me, it’s one thing preparing a child for an organised firework display, they know what’s going on and have their earmuffs on, it’s quite another to be subjected to sudden thumps of noise while sitting at home. The child can get very upset by the random nature of the noise.
Fireworks are also cited to cause immense distress to veterans with post-traumatic stress. It is horrifying to think that after all the bombing they were subjected to, they must now relive the noise and feel the experience in their own home. 
Lastly, the environmental impact of fireworks cannot be ignored. While we are in a climate emergency, surely action needs to be taken to reduce the damage done to the environment by senseless fun. 

I therefore ask that at least in our town of Bromsgrove, that our district council should lead the way to change and restrict the use of fireworks to organised, licensed events only. 

Thank you for supporting this important, progressive cause. At some point we have to change traditions that encroach on the liberties of others with no real value to us as a society. When I hear how much distress fireworks are causing others, I find it hard to enjoy them at all.
 
Thank you.
Sam Ammar