“Silent” fireworks will have to be used at all events held on property owned by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.
A new fireworks protocol was agreed at a meeting of the council’s Community Development Committee on Monday.
Low noise fireworks will have to be used at events held by third parties at council facilities and those funded by the council. In January, councillors backed a motion for the use of “silent” fireworks at events organised by the local authority.
The committee was told, for example, fireworks are used as part of the Halloween ‘Spooked Out’ event in V36 and during special events, such as those held to commemorate the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the King’s Coronation.
A committee report said the local authority has now switched to low-noise fireworks which are “designed to deliver vibrant visual displays without the sharp, explosive bangs of traditional fireworks”.
Antrim DUP Councillor Paul Dunlop BEM proposed the recommendation for the new fireworks protocol be approved, seconded by party colleague Ballyclare Cllr Helen Magill.
Speaking at the committee meeting, Cllr Dunlop said: “It was myself who brought this to council. I must admit, I am absolutely delighted to see what is in front of us. The fact we are promoting it right across all events linked to the council is fantastic.”
It is expected conditions of all grant funding offers and the terms and conditions of all council hire agreements will be amended to exclude the use of all but low noise fireworks.
The protocol is expected to apply to the community festival fund; tourism event grant; cultural grant aid programme; Christmas celebration event grant; sports event grants and bonfire management programme.
Cllr Dunlop had asked the council to consider the “negative impact” the noise of fireworks can have on children, pets and livestock and for council to “consequently consider the use of silent fireworks for all future council-led and council funded events and council hired facilities where fireworks are to be used” with a campaign to raise awareness ahead of Halloween.
Cllr Magill said at the time: “By using and promoting the use of low noise fireworks, we can offer a more inclusive way for our community to enjoy these celebrations without inflicting unnecessary discomfort, harm and risk to people and animals alike.”
Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter
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