Could this be the last Bonfire Night for noisy fireworks?

- Published

Bangers, rockets and screamers have long been part of Bonfire Night - but the traditional celebrations might sound a little different next year.

The government is currently considering reducing the noise limit for fireworks by 50% for those bought in shops for private use, after pressure from campaigners concerned about the impact on nervous animals and people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Professionally organised displays would continue to have no maximum limit provided the noise level is not harmful to human health.

About 20 million people enjoy fireworks at home every year, according to industry figures.

Andy Hubble, of the British Fireworks Association (BFA), said displays had already been getting quieter and a balance must be struck to prevent a black market in noisy fireworks springing up.

The end of October sees the start of several celebrations traditionally marked by fireworks and bonfires, including Halloween on 31 October, Guy Fawkes Night on 5 November, and Diwali, which is on 8 November this year.

The government has said an outright ban on the public buying fireworks would not be proportionate.

But Business Minister Kate Dearden said her department was considering "reforms to fireworks legislation, focused on their key harms associated with their misuse - their noise, and contribution to antisocial behaviour – whilst still allowing individuals to enjoy fireworks safely and responsibly for the important community and cultural celebrations they play a part of."

It is already illegal to sell fireworks to under 18s, or to set fireworks off after 23:00, with exemptions for special occasions including Bonfire Night, Diwali, New Year's Eve and Chinese New Year.

But campaigners have raised concerns about the impact of loud bangs on nervous pets.

Dog owner Katherine Alderson, from Clacton-on-Sea, told BBC Breakfast: "It's a nightmare every single year.

"This year I've actually barricaded my bedroom window with numerous layers of insulation to try and keep out the noise of fireworks."

Asked whether reducing the bangs would take the fun out of fireworks, she said she believed displays "should be about the lights and colours" and suggested "a complete ban" on the sale of fireworks to the general public could be the solution.

But other campaigners say a ban is not needed, including Alan Friggieri, from the charity Combat Stress, which supports veterans with PTSD.

Giving evidence to MPs on the Commons' Business Committee, Friggieri said calls to their helpline jump at this time of year because loud bangs can trigger PTSD symptoms.

"Nothing quite sounds like an AK47 other than fireworks going off - it's that crackle," one veteran who had been shot multiple times had told him.

Friggieri said veterans need to be able to plan around key dates, but he said he was not calling for a ban, because his organisation understands the cultural importance of firework displays.

Calling for better enforcement of existing rules by police to stop antisocial behaviour, BFA vice chairman Hubble warned a ban in Ireland had seen a flourishing black market in firework sales.

"There is a real risk here that if we make fireworks quieter that there is still a demand then we could create an illegal market where fireworks are coming in through internet sales and white van sales," he told BBC Breakfast.

"At the moment we have a really well-regulated market where we have enforcers that know the products and can test them but as soon as these products go undercover then we lose that.

"We could actually create a louder and noisier environment because those are the sorts of fireworks that we're seeing coming in through illegal sales on the internet."

Asked whether it was true that displays were getting noisier, Hubble said: "No, no, it's a lot quieter than it used to be - we used to have bangers and air bombs and and screamer rockets that used to be on sale and they were withdrawn from sale."

The government is considering reducing the maximum noise limit from the current 120dB, equivalent toa thunderclap, to 110dB, which is equivalent to a car horn.

Hubble said a BFA assessment of firework sales shows a 50% noise reduction to 110 dB would impact up to 60% of firework sales to the general public.

Lowering levels to 90DB, equivalent to a lawnmower, as some campaigners want, would affect about 95% of fireworks.

"That's effectively a ban on consumer fireworks, not a modest reduction in noise," he said.

RSPCA advice for people with nervous pets:

Stay calm and show your pet that all is well

Put on music or the TV to help mask firework sounds

Close any windows and do what you can to block out both the noise and the flashes

Keep your environment secure: make sure your pet can't escape if there's a sudden noise

For dogs: let them pace around, if they're whining, barking or hiding, let them

Play with a toy if your pet wants to join in, but don't force them to play

Combat Stress advice for people with PTSD:

Use noise cancelling headphones to reduce the sound of explosions and blackout blinds to block out flashes of light

Use scented candles, diffusers or plug ins to make your home smell good and nothing like those you remember from deployments

Remind yourself you are safe, and focus on the present using breathing and grounding techniques, or with exercise

Ask friends and family to be with you on key dates like Bonfire Night

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