A St Albans Councillor has called for a noise limit on fireworks to protect animals on Bonfire Night.
Labour Councillor Mark Hobday proposed the ban, which would limit fireworks on council land to less than 90 decibels (dB), after citing Britain’s status as a “nation of animal lovers”.
However, St Albans Liberal Democrat Council Leader Paul de Kort expressed his opposition to such an idea.
Warning of “unintended consequences”, he said: “We may well find there was much less money raised for those extremely good causes”.
Councillors are looking to ban fireworks that are louder than 90 decibels
PA
St Albans Fireworks Spectacular, which is held in Verulamium Park and is organised by St Albans Cathedral, has raised more than £900,000 for charities since it began 40 years ago.
Moreover, de Kort suggested that a ban may lead to more people hosting their own private firework events, which could result in “an increase in the disturbance to animal welfare”.
He said: “Public displays which are organised, which are planned, which have set times and have controls, I would think are always better than fireworks going off in the street at random intervals.
“I think too much of that happens now, to be honest.”
The fireworks will be held in Verulamium Park and are organised by the St Albans Cathedral
Wikimedia Commons
Hobday had earlier said that the council ought to back up its 2020 motion calling on the Government to ban fireworks with more than 90 (dB) at private events, by doing the same in public.
He said: “To me, this is a moral issue. We should work hard to lessen the impact fireworks have on wildlife, domestic pets and people with noise sensitivities.
“Where we control the land, and hence the fireworks, let us be a beacon of the practice that four years ago we asked others to emulate.
“Officers write every year to the cathedral chapter to request that they use quieter fireworks going forward. But every year the cathedral … say no.
Council Leader Paul de Kort of the Liberal Democrats opposes the ban, saying it could bring unexpected consequences.
St Albans City Council
“It’s therefore time for us to strengthen our approach … it is time for St Albans Council to take a lead.”
The RSPCA has backed Hobday’s proposals after the Labour Councillor cited “scientific studies” which showed that animals exhibit fear in response to fireworks.
This year’s fireworks will raise money for Home-Start Hertfordshire and Earthworks St Albans.
