Redwings Horse Sanctuary have started a petition asking the government to reduce the maximum noise level for fireworks from 120 decibels to 90 decibels. Please sign and share the petition
Redwings Petition
Category Updates
Fireworks Working Group Meeting With Minister
Five members of the Fireworks Working Group – animal welfare, veterans and children’s health charities – and Sarah Owen MP met with Minister Justin Madders, Parliamentary Under-secretary of State at the Department for Business and Trade on 04/02/2025. It was a very productive meeting and the Government are keen to listen to campaigners and take our concerns on board.
Results Published from Redwings Fireworks & Horses Survey
On behalf of Redwings Horse Sanctuary, thank you to everyone who completed their Fireworks and Horses survey. Over 5,000 (5,128) responses were recorded from across the UK with 67.9% of those taking part having first hand experience of their horses being negatively affected by fireworks.
You can read the full report here …
Fireworks Bill 2nd Reading
Unfortunately the 2nd reading of Sarah Owen’s fireworks bill was timed out today after only 10 minutes (17/01/2025).
Sarah has given a new date of 25/04/2025 for Second Reading but it will go to the back of the queue on that day. However it does keep the Bill alive allowing ongoing conversations with Government.
Don’t be disheartened as there’s lots of momentum going forward.
The Hansard transcript is available to read.
Redwings Fireworks & Horses Survey
If you are over 16, live in the UK and care for at least one horse, pony, donkey or mule, Redwings Horse Sanctuary would love to hear your thoughts and experiences about the impact of fireworks on equines. There is a maximum of 22 questions and the survey should only take around 6 minutes to complete. The survey will remain open until Sunday 19th January 2025.
Click here to start the survey
They also provide lots of useful information in their Keep Horses In Mind Fireworks Campaign Action Pack
Petitions Debated & MPs Agree Legislation Reform Is Needed
Lots going on at the moment:
Our 2024 petition was debated on 09/12/2024 along with the 2023 petition. It’s a long debate as so many MPs spoke in favour of reform – you can watch it here or read the Hansard transcript.
On 10/12/2024 The Firework Campaign were delighted to join the RSPCA, Combat Stress, Dogs Trust and Help For Heroes at Sarah Owen MP‘s MP drop-in event. Great to see so many MPs in agreement that firework legislation is in need of reform.
Next step is the second reading of the bill on 17/01/2025.
The 2024 Petition Will Be Debated on 9th December 2024
The 2023 and 2024 petitions will both be debated on 9th December 2024.
It is significant that the announcement to debate this year’s petition comes before reaching 100,000 and less than a month after publication.
MPs ARE LISTENING
Please contact yours and ask them to attend on your behalf.
Click here to sign this year’s petition
Why now is the perfect time to email your MP
- On 9th December the 2023 government petition on fireworks will be debated in Westminster Hall, offering a critical opportunity to influence future regulations
- On 10th December, Sarah Owen’s MP drop-in event will provide a platform for MPs to understand the importance of firework reform and its public backing
- On 17th January, Sarah Owen’s private members’ bill will have its second reading
- Combined with the 1 million+ supporters of our change petition and the current government petition over 50,000 signatures in 10 days, this is our best chance to show MPs how much public support exists for stricter regulations
Fireworks cause significant harm to pets, wildlife, the environment and people with conditions affected by fireworks. Emailing your MP is a key step toward pushing for better regulations. Some people have suggested a template they can use to email their MP, but unfortunately, it is likely such an email would be rejected as it would be identified as a duplicate or spam. Writing your message in your own words makes it far more likely to be noticed and taken seriously.
The easiest way to contact your MP is to use https://www.writetothem.com/
In order to help, we have included below some points to consider, which can be used as a guideline:
1. Introduce your concern:
– Example: “I am writing to share my concerns about the significant harm caused by the widespread use of fireworks in our community.”
2. Share your personal experience (optional but beneficial if you can):
– Briefly explain how fireworks affect you, your family, or your pets.
– Example: “Every year, my dog suffers severe anxiety due to fireworks, requiring sedation for weeks.”
3. Highlight the wider impact:
– Mention the effects on wildlife, farm animals, or vulnerable individuals such as those with PTSD, dementia, or neurodivergent conditions such as autism.
– Include environmental concerns, such as pollution from chemicals and debris.
4. Propose solutions:
– Suggest restricting fireworks to licensed, organised events only.
– Call for designated firework dates to limit prolonged distress.
– Have a look at the Firework Campaign website and our petitions calling for action
5. Request action:
– Example: “I urge you to advocate for stricter regulations on fireworks and raise this issue in Parliament.”
– Ask them to attend the debate on 9th December.
– Ask them to attend Sarah Owen’s MP drop-in event on 10th December, where MPs can learn more about her private members’ bill on firework reform and the widespread public support for these changes.
– Ask them to support the second reading of Sarah Owen’s private members bill on 17th January.
6. Be polite and concise:
– Example: “Thank you for taking the time to consider my concerns. I hope you will support changes to address this issue.”
Always remember to add your full name, address, phone number, and email address, otherwise your email may be ignored.
Delivery of Massive Petition to Downing Street
Julie delivered the Firework Campaign’s petition for legislation reform with over 1,086,000 signatures to 10 Downing Street yesterday (05/11/2024) accompanied by representatives from Assistance Dogs UK, British Horse Association, Dogs Trust, Redwings and RSPCA and Alex Mayer MP.
The campaign continues. Our next goal is to get the new government petition over the 100,000 signatures required to be considered for debate.
Edinburgh first Scottish council to pass fireworks ban
Edinburgh Councilors have voted to introduce temporary restrictions in Niddrie, Balerno, Seafield and Calton Hill, following serious disorder in the Niddrie area last year and support for a ban from community groups and animal welfare charities.
The control zones will run from 1-10 November 2024. Anyone setting off a private firework during this period will be committing a criminal offence.
The Scottish government gave local authorities the power to designate firework control zones (FCSs) in 2022 following a major riot in Dundee. Establishing FCZs is a “key milestone in the journey towards a cultural change in Scotland’s relationship with fireworks”.
In Other News:
The Pet Abduction Act 2024 came into effect on 24/08/2024. This Act recognises that cats and dogs are sentient beings capable of experiencing distress and other trauma. Now that the distress of animals is recognised in law you can use this when contacting your own MP about fireworks https://www.writetothem.com. Many more sentient beings (our pets) are traumatised by the use of fireworks every year. If our pets now have legislation to bring the full weight of the law to prosecute theft trauma surely the playing field should be level and fireworks prosecution should not rely solely on the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
URGENT CALL for anyone who lives, works or otherwise has a connection with Edinburgh
Edinburgh Council has launched a consultation on a city-wide Firework Control Zone (FCZ).
The Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 empowers Local Authorities to designate FCZs in their area. Within these Zones, no use of fireworks would be allowed without a licence, unless the fireworks are part of a public display.
The Council is currently considering both four individual zones (Calton Hill, Balerno, Niddrie and Seafield), and an alternative city-wide zone. Greens are concerned individual zones won’t protect the environment, animals and vulnerable people across the city. The Council are also concerned that, given how far fireworks can be heard, the individual zones will not be effective.
Click here to complete
Sample arguments to fill in the free-text comments boxes, should you wish to do so, can be found here
The consultation is open until 23 August, but completing the consultation by 6 August would be ideal, as the responses can be considered by the Culture and Communities Committee on 8 August. Please do still fill it in later if you are not able to by this date.
Individuals need to live; work or otherwise have a connection with the city in order to have their response considered