West Lothian Council has backed calls to demand a clampdown on fireworks and tighter controls on their sale.
The council also backed more work with police and fire services to control the abuse of fireworks.
A Conservative motion slated the weakness of new Holyrood legislation in the light of the disruption in West Lothian and beyond earlier this month.
Councillor Alison Adamson referred to the death of two animals in Edinburgh Zoo around bonfire night, which were down to the shock from the noise of explosions. She cited them as failures of the new Firework Control Zones.
Councillor Adamson said: “There are people and animals being traumatised by continuous noise and communities are living in fear of the consequences of the actions of an unruly element.
“The over-hyped firework control zones still allow for licensed organised displays but put undue pressure on police. It is apparent we need to take a firm approach to control this escalating public nuisance for the safety and wellbeing of families, animals and emergency workers.
“This is now a matter of priority.”
Councillor Adamson said: “Local trading standard officers can inspect local registered retailers to ensure all safety regulations are being met. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for online suppliers using couriers to deliver potentially unregulated imported fireworks and pyrotechnics (flares).”
Her motion concluded by calling for a: “A ban on the sale of noise making fireworks for general sale and only have sales of silent or reduced noise fireworks available to the general public.
“Considerations for submitting a ban on all online sales and deliveries of fireworks and pyrotechnics. New measures need to be considered as a matter of urgency for enforcement in 2025.”
Councillors agreed to back the motion without debate.
Another motion regarding greater communication with community council and community groups over potential Firework Control Zones from the SNP’s Maria MacAulay was accepted as work ongoing by the Public and Community Safety executive councillor Craig Meek as work ongoing
By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency. It is funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector (in Edinburgh that is Reach plc (the publisher behind Edinburgh Live and The Daily Record) and used by many qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover news about top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
