SETTING off fireworks will become illegal in some parts of Edinburgh this November as the council approves “control zones” throughout the city.
Councillors for the local authority voted to introduce temporary restrictions in Niddrie, Balerno, Seafield, and Calton Hill to crack down on anti-social behaviour and minimise the impact on animals and vulnerable people.
The control zones will run from November 1-10 and anyone caught setting off a private firework during this period in one of the four designated areas will be committing a criminal offence.
The Scottish Government said establishing control zones was a “key milestone in the journey towards a cultural change in Scotland's relationship with fireworks”.
Anyone looking to set off fireworks in one of the control zones will need to apply for a licencse from the council.
The ban on private fireworks is widely supported by community groups and animal welfare charities following the disorder in the Niddrie area last year.
Riot police were attacked by around 100 youths with petrol bombs and fireworks in the area last year with similar trouble in Southhouse and Sighthill.
David Morrison, station commander with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said that emergency services are already stretched every year and has warned there will still be anti-social behaviour despite the ban.
He told councillors: “Whether there's a firework control zone or not, year on year we're still going to continue getting the anti-social behaviour from the ones that are non-compliant.”
Meanwhile, in Glasgow, a council consultation on a firework ban in 12 zones has just closed, and in Dundee, the council also launched a consultation into the matter.
Edinburgh City Council's culture and communities committee voted against a control zone covering the entire city but will return to the discussion in February after collecting feedback from the control zones in November.
