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Firework scheme 'not going far enough'

Vicki Holman
23/10/2007

A SCHEME to reduce firework nuisance in the run-up to Bonfire Night does not go far enough.

That was the view of chairman of Heywood Township, Councillor Colin Lambert, when he spoke to reporters at our sister television station Channel M on Monday.

The Good Guys scheme, being operated by Rochdale Council, has reduced firework nuisance by a third.

But Councillor Lambert, who has spent a decade fighting for fireworks to be more heavily regulated, said it could go further and that over-the-counter sales of powerful fireworks should be banned.

He said: “I have been fighting for the banning of the over-the-counter sale of fireworks for 10 years. The Good Guys scheme is fine but it is a voluntary scheme and the good traders abide by it but the rogue traders just ignore it.

“Fireworks now aren’t just fireworks we knew as children – they are mini munitions and should be heavily regulated by the government.”

Cllr Lambert supports the fire authority’s safety plan, which sets out guidelines for a safe Bonfire Night, but added: “Fireworks are like other products where there should be a register kept on who buys them to prevent them being misused.”

The Good Guys scheme highlights responsible traders who display posters and certificates, and agree to sell fireworks only between October 15 and November 10.

In Rochdale, 21 retailers have joined the scheme this year and agreed to ensure the purchaser is aware of their responsibilities.

In Heywood these are; V G Supermarket, The Rod Rest, The Co-op on Sutherland Road, Lidl, and Morrisons.

The council’s chief trading standards officer, Andy Glover, said: “Thanks to the Good Guys Scheme, reports of fire nuisance were down by a third last year and the number of complaints about under-age sales also dropped.”

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