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Lighting fuse of fireworks ban
Michael Byrne13/ 1/2006
ROCHDALE'S two MPs have said they will back council moves to become the first local authority in Britain to ban over-the-counter sales of fireworks.
Rochdale Township committee councillors have asked the legal department to examine whether they have the power to introduce such a measure.
The idea is also being considered by councillors on other important council committees.
If the ban is approved it would mean an end to fireworks at private parties.
Jim Dobbin, the MP for Castleton, Norden and Bamford, has campaigned nationally for a ban on the public sale and use of fireworks.
He said: "I would support this move because it is something I have wanted for a long time. I think this is the way to curtail the sale of illegal fireworks, which are the ones causing many of the problems.
"I would prefer to see fireworks only used at supervised public displays because when they are let off randomly they scare elderly people. But I think only the government, rather than the council, has the power to introduce such a ban.
"The government brought in new regulations last year, including limiting the time fireworks are on sale. I believe this helped cut down the number of problems and I think the government would want to give it a couple more years to see how they work."
Paul Rowen, Rochdale's MP, also pledged his support.
He said: "There would be quite a lot of support in the House of Commons for this plan, although the government would like to see how the new regulations go.
"Fireworks at one time were only used on bonfire night, but now they seem to be heard at many other times. I've had complaints from people saying their pets are terrified. Perhaps Rochdale could be used as a pilot scheme for such a ban."
Rochdale Council trading standards officers inspected potential retailers of fireworks before last year's bonfire time. It encouraged more traders to join the Good Guy scheme, which signalled the commitment not to sell illegal fireworks or to sell fireworks to children.
A Rochdale council spokesman said: "Councillors called on officers to investigate the possibility of a ban on over-the-counter sales and the private use of fireworks.
"The matter is being considered by all the township committees. If it was to become policy it would first need full council approval rather than the backing of individual township committees."
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26/01/2006 at 20:58
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27/01/2006 at 15:41