A citywide firework control zone has been ruled out by Edinburgh councillors, who are instead set to focus on tackling problems in local areas.
Councillors backed consulting the public on Fireworks Control Zones (FCZ) for Niddrie, Sighthill/Broomhouse and Gracemount/Mordun, which if approved would ban fireworks in each area for ten days around Bonfire Night.
Officers will also solicit applications for new fireworks control zones submitted to the public – but ruled out consulting on a citywide FCZ.
Several small FCZs in the city, including in Niddrie and Calton Hill, reportedly had a positive effect on fireworks use during Bonfire Night last year.
Earlier in the day, councillors heard deputations from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and animal charities Cats Protection and OneKind around controlling fireworks use.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s deputation touched on the usefulness of youth work in combating firework-related antisocial behaviour through their Fireskills programme.
And the Cats Protection deputation touched on harm to animals, with the charity saying domestic cats run away from home every Bonfire Night.
Further, they raised the case of a red panda which died at Edinburgh Zoo last year as a result of stress from the sound of nearby fireworks.
The decision was referred to Thursday’s [20 March] full council meeting by the Culture and Communities Committee.
Labour councillor and committee convener Val Walker said: “There will need to be evidence that this scale of restriction is needed across the city.
“That has not occurred. Most of the city has remained peaceful overnight.
“A FCZ is not the only means, or the best means, to maintain peace. Police can issue dispersal orders across the city.
“The most recent [Scottish Government] advice suggests that the boundaries of a FCZ must be proportional.”
The results of consultations carried out by officers will be presented to the Culture and Communities Committee on 21 August 2025.
By Joseph Sullivan 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.
