3 replies to this topic

[richard]

I dont know if there is any one who wants a cure for insomnia, if so have a look at Bill Tynans firework bill

http://www.parliamen...017/2003017.htm

[Mr Sensible]

It looks as though this is to be the first time that mere possession of certain items is to be made illegal, as opposed to supplying them.

Surely this will criminalise all kinds of people who still have a few older bits and pieces lying around their storage, and be about as much of a mess to enforce as the drug laws..

If anyone knows who or how to lobby....

[pyrotrev]

There's very little actual rules in this bill, it's what they call "enabling legisaltion", giving the Secretary of State power to put in place various regulations without full recourse to Parliament, i.e. at his whim and fancy, and that of his fellow politicians. What is really dangerous about it is the wording in the introduction, where it says the bill is there to "make any provisionthat the Secretary of State considers appropriate for securing that there is NO RISK (my caps) that the use of fireworks will have the consequences specified"

which are:

"a) Death of persons or injury, alarm distress or anxiety to persons
death of animals or injury or distress to animals
c) destruction of or damage to property

We will all agree with the death, injury and destruction bits, as careful practicioners of a potentially hazardous art. But no risk of distress or anxiety?? These are things that vary from person to person, and are largely unquantifiable. This means that if there's just 2 miserable buggers somewhere that say the fireworks frighten them, the Secretary of State has power to stop their use. Completely, if he so feels.
It's another example of the wishes of a minority of whingers stopping the enjoyment of the majority of people, this time the government is trying to hand them the means to do this on a plate.

Time to get lobbying I think, start by writing to your MP, and Bill Tynan, either at their local office, or the house of commons.
Another little thing that's worth knowing about.......an enterprising vet has worked out ways of stopping our four-legged friends getting upset by fireworks. See fear http://www.fearoffireworks.co.uk

[richard]

I am in full agreeance with you pyrotrev, one MP thats thinks the rules ane regulations are fine as they are is Edward Leigh in Gainsborough who I shall be writing to shortly, I wvisted the RSPCA web site and they have a campaign angainst but there figures used are from 1003 telephone calls made by themselves to indiviuals(who are probably the 1003 who hate pyro)