Glasgow City Council has apologised to residents after the planned fireworks ban in Pollokshields was delayed ahead of Bonfire Night due to a council error. The Firework Control Zone (FCZ) was intended to cover Pollokshields, an area that has experienced significant anti-social behaviour involving fireworks. The ban, which would have prohibited the use of fireworks in both public and private spaces, was scheduled to be in place from November 1 to 10. However, the council failed to issue a legal notice in a timely manner to enforce the ban during those dates.
As reported by Glasgow Live, a council spokesman expressed regret over the situation, stating, “We are very sorry that the firework control zone for Pollokshields cannot go ahead as we had hoped for this year’s Bonfire Night.” The spokesman explained that the necessary legal notice was not issued promptly to enable the ban to be implemented on schedule. Consequently, the enforcement of the zone will now be postponed until the following year.
The decision to establish a firework control zone requires a notice to be published 60 days prior to its enactment. In this case, the notice for the Pollokshields zone was issued on September 9. While the council received 19 applications for firework control zones across the city, only Pollokshields met the criteria for such a zone. A consultation on the potential introduction of a city-wide firework control zone for Glasgow is set to conclude on October 20.
In response to the delay, the council has reached out to members of the Pollokshields community who sought the establishment of a firework control zone in their area, expressing apologies for the disappointment caused by the setback. Collaboration with emergency services is underway to address community safety concerns related to Bonfire Night in Pollokshields and other parts of the city.
Pollokshields has been a focal point for firework-related anti-social behaviour, prompting the consideration of a control zone. Upon the initial announcement of the zone, Councillor Elaine McSporran, the council’s firework safety champion, highlighted the distressing incidents that had occurred in the area. The hope was that the zone’s implementation would offer some respite to residents of Pollokshields.
The council’s error has led to the delay of the fireworks ban in Pollokshields, impacting residents who were anticipating enhanced safety measures for Bonfire Night. As discussions continue regarding the potential city-wide firework control zone, the council is working to address safety concerns and ensure a more effective strategy for managing firework-related issues in the future.