|
"So the fight continues. Don't forget nothing has changed. We face the same uncontrolled situation with fireworks this year as we did last year and every year going back to the time when fireworks were first sold in shops. The situation has already begun with uncontrolled displays. In September we will have the shops debacle. Then the abuse with fireworks really begins."
It was forecast from the beginning of the year that the Government were looking for a new Bill on fireworks Bill on fireworks to replace the disastrous Linda Gilroy Bill that was talked out five years ago by maverick MP Eric Forth and his friends which included David McLean. Six months ago Bill Tynan, a Scottish Labour MP won the Ballot for Private Members Bills. The biggest item in the MP's mailbags was fireworks and that is what Bill chose.
The Bill would have brought back many of Linda Gilroy's measures including licensed firework displays. This time it includes the 3 months sales period made compulsory- October 15th to just after November 5th. A curfew on midnight firework displays. Now they must stop at 11pm. The amount of explosives (fireworks) that any retailer can store is also drastically curtailed. But no ban on retail sales which is what the majority of MPs wanted, and the public in the country for many years now. The Bill would have been scuppered by the Government had Mr Tynan tried to bring about a ban plus licensed firework displays.
Having got through the Commons procedures with amendments. We lost the controlled decibel levels that we and the RSPCA fought for. I believe it was 95dB. The Bill is asking for 120dB. Who wants this? The Firework industry. Anyway, there is more trouble. As soon as the Bill went to the House of Lords recently all clauses have been opposed by Lord? This means that the Bill will fall unless the Lords backs the Bill and then we are back to square one. It is just amazing that there has been no major firework Bill since the Explosives Legislation of 1875. The Government got rid of the 1875 Act, and now we have little or nothing in it place.
The campaign have said since this Bill came about that if it is defeated we will go only for a Bill to ban retail sales and the licensing of all firework displays with a national training scheme. There will be no half measures or compromises. There cannot be for it is 128 years since we have had some proper legislation on the Statute Book.
What is more a ban on retail sales is supported by most people plus the Regional Newspapers led by "The Manchester Evening News" This is no longer just the firework campaign calling for a ban on retail sales. The campaign has led the fight from the time we started all 34 years ago.
If the Bill in Parliamentary Parlance gets a "fair wind" and is allowed to proceed we will ask MPs and the Lords to strengthen it with further Amendments. Not to weaken it as they did with Linda Gilroy, and then destroy it on its last Reading.
So the fight continues. Don't forget nothing has changed. We face the same uncontrolled situation with fireworks this year as we did last year and every year going back to the time when fireworks were first sold in shops. The situation has already begun with uncontrolled displays. In September we will have the shops debacle. Then the abuse with fireworks really begins.
Yours Always, NOEL (SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN - JOIN THE CAMPAIGN)
Return to Noel's Page
Return to Menu Page of National Campaign for Firework Safety
|
|