A REVIEW into the use of fireworks across the district is to be held by Bradford Council.

The review has been announced in response to residents expressing serious concerns about anti-social behaviour involving fireworks across their neighbourhoods.

But campaigners say a review is not needed - the Council just needs to enforce the present laws.

Tim Hasney, a spokesman for Bradford 4 Better, said: "It's an easy problem to solve - just use the existing laws."

The Council’s Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee has been commissioned to carry out whatwas described as a wholesale review of the use of fireworks.

It says fireworks can be used responsibly by sensible adults, particularly at well-run public events at reasonable times of the day but in recent years, however, large firework celebrations seem to be happening a lot more often throughout the year both at night and during the day, with loud noise causing distress to people, pets and other animals in the district.

The Council said the key lines of enquiry for the scrutiny review would be:

• review the licensing requirements and other regulations around fireworks

• explore improved prevention and enforcement activities

• consider the sale and distribution of fireworks across Bradford

• examine the use of fireworks around Bonfire Night and at religious and family occasions

• scrutinise the inappropriate use of fireworks, including the impact upon residents, pets and other animals

• analyse the impact of the use of fireworks upon noise, air pollution, cleansing and emergency planning

The Scrutiny Committee, chaired by Councillor Nazam Azam, will receive and consider a wide variety of evidence and information provided by our partners and a range of interested parties.

As part of the review, Bradford Council is encouraging residents to come forward and voice any issues or concerns they may have regarding anti-social behaviour involving fireworks.

Public views will be fed back into a wider information gathering session with a view to working out resolutions to the issues raised.

All responses should be sent to Mustansir Butt, Overview and Scrutiny Lead, via email on mustansir.butt@bradford.gov.uk or by post to room 112, 1st floor, City Hall, by Tuesday 31 March 2020.

Cllr Abdul Jabar, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety, said: “We want to make sure that everyone has a chance to inform this review so we can take the right steps to tackle the issue of anti-social firework behaviour.

“Most people behave responsibly with fireworks but we need to find the best way to tackle the minority who behave recklessly and cause problems for others. Anyone who thinks they can help should contact us and make their views known.”

Among the incidents recently reported by the T&A are:

• A 16-year-old boy left with horrific burns and injuries after having a firework thrown at him near Baildon Bank

• A bombardment of fireworks in West Bowling which made an almighty racket that could be heard up to seven miles away

• Boxes upon boxes of spent fireworks dumped on a street after the West Bowling barrage

• A gang of youths firing rockets around Eccleshill Park

• Bonfire night drama in 2018 when fireworks, placed on a traffic island in the middle of Carlisle Road, Manningham, shot into the sky.

A T&A reader poll held in August found that three-quarters of the 1,161 members of the public who voted said they would support a ban on the sale of fireworks to the public.

Mr Hasney said: "Why aren't laws being enforced?

"It's good they are finally doing something.

"Incidents are reported time and time again, it's like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.

"Everyone likes fireworks but there's a time and a place.

He said the Council should do what they are meant to do and stop fireworks being used late at night, in public places and on days when they should not be fired off - which are all against the law.

He added there was a problem in Bradford of industrial fireworks being used when they should have a special licence.

He some of these cost £3-400 and they are then left as litter.

"It's not rocket science," he said. "A blind eye has been turned to it.

"Nobody wants to be a killjoy but it's anti-social behaviour."

He said Bradford For Better had been educating the public and he thought a lot of the public would support restrictions.