Furs and Fireworks - Lib Dem motion for silent firework move passes
Brentwood Council will, thanks to Lib Dem councillor Karen Chilvers, be writing to Brentwood & Ongar MP. Alex Burghart, to ask him to engage with the RSPCA in their campaign to move to silent fireworks.
Karen said:
"Many RSPCA supporters wrote to their councillors last year asking the council to take action to stop the unreasonable noise made by fireworks. Unfortunately, council powers are limited so I sought out the best solution which is to ask for our MP to take action on behalf of all animal lovers in parliament.
"I am delighted to see the motion pass as it had been deferred from the last meeting In January, pre-Covid, but disappointed to see so many Conservative councillors vote against. Even if they were not bothered about animals I hoped they would consider those on the autism spectrum who are also significantly affected."
A letter will go to Mr Burghart, signed by Karen and leader of the council, Cllr Chris Hossack, and we hope he will report back in the next six months to tell us what action he has taken.
You can watch the brief debate here, from 1hr 32m.
How councillors voted
"Fireworks cause considerable distress to our pets, wildlife and livestock. In addition, they cause distress to the sick, vulnerable and those with mental health issues. There are also concerns over their environmental impact.
"There are alternatives such as silent fireworks and drone light shows. With Brentwood residents contacting us regularly with their concerns and major supermarket chains halting their sale, it is surely time to review the use of traditional, outdated fireworks and look for a new way to celebrate in 2020.
"Unfortunately, councils' powers are limited. Stopping their sale has no impact as people can buy elsewhere and restricting them by licensing powers covers barely any fireworks events as most are private. Licensing officers advised that major reform can only be made at parliamentary level. Therefore, Brentwood Council resolves to write to Alex Burghart MP to request that he formally engages with the RSPCA (the organisation campaigning to change fireworks legislation) and report back within six months".
FOR
LIBERAL DEMOCRAT
Cllr Barry Aspinell - Pilgrims Hatch
Cllr Karen Chilvers - Brentwood West (proposer)
Cllr Nigel Clarke - Warley
Cllr Sarah Cloke - Brentwood West
Cllr Vicky Davies - Pilgrims Hatch (seconder)
Cllr Andy Fryd - Shenfield
Cllr Alison Fulcher - Brentwood North
Cllr Mark Haigh - Warley
Cllr David Kendall - Pilgrims Hatch
Clr Jay Laplain - Warley
Cllr Mark Lewis - - Brentwood North
Cllr Philip Mynott - - Brentwood North
Cllr Dominic Naylor - Brentwood West
CONSERVATIVE
Cllr Cliff Poppy - Brizes & Doddinghurst
Cllr Olivia Sanders - Hutton East
INDEPENDENT
Cllr Roger Keeble - Tipps Cross
LABOUR
Cllr Gareth Barrett - Brentwood South
Cllr Tim Barrett - Brentwood South
AGAINST
CONSERVATIVE
Cllr Thomas Bridge - Ingatestone, Fryerning & Mountnessing
Cllr Roger Hirst - Hutton South
Cllr Peter Jakobsson - Tipps Cross
Cllr Louise McKinlay - Hutton North
Cllr Charles Nolan - Hutton Central
Cllr Keith Parker - Brizes & Doddinghurst
Cllr Jan Pound - Shenfield
Cllr Sandy Tanner - Hutton North
ABSTAIN
CONSERVATIVE
Cllr Chris Hossack - Hutton East
Cllr Roger McCheyne - Brizes & Doddinghurst
Cllr Tom McLaren - South Weald
Cllr Maria Pearson - Herongate, Ingrave & West Horndon
cllr Mark Reed - Hutton South
Cllr Cat Tierney - Herongate, Ingrave & West Horndon