Glasgow Families Express Fear Over Fireworks Misuse After Control Zone Failure

Households in Glasgow express apprehension regarding the improper use of fireworks, following what they describe as the council’s “embarrassing” inability to enact a prohibition before Bonfire Night. In Pollokshields, residents had been informed they would benefit from the city’s inaugural Fireworks Control Zone (FCZ) for this year’s Bonfire Night, due to experiencing the most severe firework-related anti-social behaviour in the city. Nevertheless, Glasgow City Council did not meet the required deadline for issuing a notification, preventing the ban from proceeding. This would have marked Scotland’s second designated control zone, established after the Scottish government granted new authorities to councils in 2022 in response to disturbances in Dundee. Individuals residing within the intended zone have already contended with over two weeks of disruptions caused by street fireworks in advance of 5 November, and the sole scheduled public display in the vicinity will not take place this year. Theresa Streete, an advocate for the control zone initiative in her neighbourhood, stated that residents were concerned about the “limit it puts on our lives at this time of year and the impact it has on children”. She informed BBC Scotland News: “I’ve filled in every consultation, signed every petition, written to everyone and anyone because we’ve had such a life-limiting experience in firework season, which is lengthy here.” She further noted a concern about fireworks being discharged at unpredictable hours during the day and night, or being aimed at individuals. A parent of three children recounted to BBC Scotland News that he, along with several families whose children range from one to nine years old, experienced fireworks being ignited near them around 20:00 on Halloween. He stated: “We were just unlucky with a huge gang of teenagers setting of fireworks and running from police or another gang, coming down St John’s Road from Ayton Road into Albert Drive.” The unnamed father expressed his astonishment when a police van and car passed through the gathering without stopping to assist the families. An email addressed to a local councillor, reviewed by the BBC, contained confirmation from a police officer regarding a “large group of youths, mostly dressed in black clothing and many wearing masks” assembled in the vicinity. The officer reported that multiple young individuals were halted and searched, resulting in the confiscation of fireworks and a weapon. Police Scotland could not verify if any arrests occurred. A spokeswoman commented: “I would like to reassure communities across Glasgow that officers will be out and about to deal with issues that may arise. “This includes enhanced patrols and specialist public order officers if needed.” Other inhabitants informed the BBC of witnessing fireworks being launched in public parks and thoroughfares. Diarmuid Simpson stated he altered his path home from his seven-year-old daughter’s school after a lit firework was propelled in their direction during their walk last week. He recounted: “We were walking past Maxwell Square Park when the firework landed on the pavement in front of us and exploded.” He added: “Three boys aged between about nine and 14 ran off, one on an e-scooter.” He further explained: “I’ve already told my child we can come home earlier from afterschool club and walk on the other side of the road, and we’ll avoid that street completely if needed to avoid being targeted again.” Spent firework casings discovered near his daughter’s school gates comprised 25-shot cakes, which are sold for £50 and can ascend to 25m (80ft), along with Roman candles categorized as a 1.3G hazard. Kenny Barbour of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service mentioned that their personnel had been visiting educational institutions over the previous week to conduct safety discussions on bonfires and fireworks. He remarked: “We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable Bonfire Night, and the public is being urged to attend public events wherever possible as this is the safest way to watch fireworks.” Nevertheless, the sole organized display planned within the control zone vicinity will not proceed this year, owing to uncertainty regarding the FCZ’s impact on the necessary licence. Through a social media update, the organizers of the yearly gathering at Clydesdale Cricket and Hockey Club announced their event’s cancellation “due to licencing issues that became apparent upon the announcement of the Fireworks Control Zone in Pollokshields”. Substitute Guy Fawkes activities have been arranged by the Youth Community Support Agency (YCSA) – a charitable organization assisting Black and Minority Ethnic young individuals – in Pollokshields and the adjacent area of Govanhill. Anwari Din indicated an expectation of approximately 100 children and teenagers at a Pollokshields event held at Glendale Primary School. She stated: “We’ve been doing this for a number of years to get the kids off the streets.” She added: “Within Pollokshields there have been young people setting off fireworks all over the place and really upsetting people.” Pollokshields Councillor Jon Molyneux, who advocates for a city-wide fireworks prohibition starting in 2025 to prevent the stigmatization of specific districts, commented that the inability to establish the FCZ this year constituted a “real blow”. During a full council assembly, SNP Councillor Ruairi Kelly addressed Molyneux’s inquiry regarding the unsuccessful FCZ, remarking that it was “regrettable and, quite honestly, embarrassing that not all firework control regulations will be available to us this year.” He further assured: “Residents can be assured that the council continues to work closely with partner agencies to ensure that enforcement action is going to be carried out.” A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council stated: “We do work alongside the police and the fire service in relation to Bonfire Night and our role is around removing material that could be used for a bonfire in public places, Trading Standards checks on the sale of fireworks, CCTV monitoring and coordination.” The council is currently processing feedback from a public consultation concerning a citywide FCZ in Glasgow, which concluded on 20 October.