8 replies to this topic

[receive]

http://www.yorkpress...regulations.php

I went to that last year and it was really good. Is anyone else missing out on a local display this year, for similar reasons?

[Arthur Brown]

Certainly my local municipal display went from the plot near my house to a much bigger field 5 miles away for last year.

However the York posting seems to be a one off event with one-off insurance which has to be totally compliant. Probably a commercial firing company would take a more pragmatic approach.

One-off single event insurance infers lack of regular current experience and possible a higher risk attached.

Added: I really cannot see why the local council's concert in the park with fireworks continues. I was well showered with shell debris at the last performance and the finale shell burst behind the crowd and I was 50metres from the crowd line. However it's been like that for two years now. -You could litter pick the public area and find all the shell fragments and labels!

Edited by Arthur Brown, 23 October 2007 - 07:32 PM.

[receive]

However the York posting seems to be a one off event with one-off insurance which has to be totally compliant. Probably a commercial firing company would take a more pragmatic approach.

One-off single event insurance infers lack of regular current experience and possible a higher risk attached.

Its been going for 30 years according to the article. Do you mean "one off" in some other sense? Like, its done once per year by amateurs rather than by full-time professional people?

[pyrotrev]

However the York posting seems to be a one off event with one-off insurance which has to be totally compliant. Probably a commercial firing company would take a more pragmatic approach.

Speaking with my commercial hat on, yes, something could possibly done in that situation (obviously subject to survey and other factors being OK), though calibres would doubtless have to be limited. It's not just down to being pragmatic, it's having the experience to know exactly what's safe in a given situation.

Added: I really cannot see why the local council's concert in the park with fireworks continues. I was well showered with shell debris at the last performance and the finale shell burst behind the crowd and I was 50metres from the crowd line. However it's been like that for two years now. -You could litter pick the public area and find all the shell fragments and labels!

That is just downright IRRESPONSIBLE. What would have happened if that finale shell burst low, or was a "black" shell??? The debris is a lesser matter, the chaff from burst casings will drift a lot further than any stars etc. - I measured about 275 meteres at Southport this year, and that was with a 7...8mph breeze and 6" max calibre.

[receive]

Haha, I was hit on the head by a piece of falling firework debris once, after a big council-run event in Birmingham.

[David]

Its so fickle- if property was damaged by debris then the paper would be " Shockingly irresponsible fireworks display ."

To those who say that " Well, there never has been problems in the past" then we need to remember that the rules do change. For example its only become legal in our lifetime for all passengers to wear seatbelts in cars- surely a move for the better.

[Arthur Brown]

I reckon they were shooting cat4 from a plot 50m square ish with roads as borders and a 5000 crowd just over the stage.

[phildunford]

Bit off topic - but forced to wear seatbelts a good thing??

Advise people, provide seatbelts and then let people make up their own mind.

It's this kind of 'Nanny State' legislation that's killing off fireworks and everything else that is fun in this country!

Yes fireworks are inherently dangerous, assess the risk, make up your own mind, accept the consequences.

Incidentally, most 'Nanny' legislation is not really about safety, but about indemnifing (if that's a word) people against the horrendous litigation and compensensation culture that has grown up in recent years.

Rant Over!!

[David]

It's this kind of 'Nanny State' legislation that's killing off fireworks and everything else that is fun in this country!

In this case, this is an insurance company making a decision not to issue insurance. Its not a governement decision. I'm NOT saying I support the insurance company, but they have made their decision, and thats the issue.

Bit off topic - but forced to wear seatbelts a good thing??

Well, I would say say yes. The thing with laws is that most people will obey them, and ultimatley acknowledge that they are in their best interests.

Add to this that failing to wear a seatbelt can endanger other passengers, and other road users (Eg a person fails to wear a seatbelt, stops suddenly is flung forward and knocked out. The car is then out of control- this could be a real danger. )

Then it seems fair enough to make it a law.