Councillors have unanimously agreed to tighter regulations of fireworks displays on land and property owned by Perth and Kinross Council.
The revised motion was deemed a "vastly watered down" version of a previous one which called for a move away from fireworks but was rejected by councillors demanding more information.
On Wednesday, May 10 Perth and Kinross councillors agreed to impose restrictions on displays on council-owned land and property.
On December 21 - following an hour's debate and heartfelt deputations by both Angie Ferguson chief executive of Perth Autism Support and Katie McCandless-Thomas of Missing Pets - several councillors were left with more questions than answers when faced with a motion for PKC to "move away from" using fireworks to celebrate key events.
On Wednesday, May 10 Labour Perth City North councillor Brian Leishman and SNP deputy council leader Eric Drysdale tabled a revised motion before councillors.
Councillors were asked to agree to fireworks/pyrotechnics displays held on council-owned property or land or that are managed, sponsored or funded by PKC, be restricted to:
- Bonfire and Fireworks Event held on the South Inch, Perth in November or other such venue as may be used for that purpose
- Christmas Lights Switch On in Perth
- Bonfire and Fireworks Event held in Pitlochry in November
- Braemar Day Fireworks Event held in Blairgowrie on the Saturday of the
Braemar Highland Games
Religious festivals - such as Chinese New Year and Diwali - in Perth and Kinross will also be permitted to have fireworks/pyrotechnics display. However organisers need to publicise details of the display in the local press, on local radio and social media. They will also require to notify PKC and limit displays to 30 minutes.
Applications can be made for use of PKC land, property, funding or sponsorship of displays. But councillors will be asked to approve "whether the circumstances justify departure from the general policy position".
Tabling the motion, Cllr Leishman said: "I believe that the motion put to you today still provides us with the opportunity to positively influence things for the benefit of people across our communities and also their pets."
He added: "I believe, with this motion, we can take proactive action to ensure our residents are well informed and have the opportunity to take pre-emptive measures that will make a real difference for those that experience the issues I have previously mentioned."
Seconding, Perth City Centre councillor Eric Drysdale added: "The Fireworks and Pyrotechnics (Scotland) Act 2022 was passed by the Scottish Parliament last June. This legislation already makes it a criminal offence for anyone to supply fireworks or other pyrotechnic articles to a person under the age of 18.
"Work is progressing to enact other powers set out in the act specifically including the introduction of a fireworks licensing system with mandatory safety training, and introducing powers for local authorities to designate firework control zones.
"These measures once fully rolled out will hopefully create a much safer environment across Scotland, and will further deter the kind of dangerous behaviour we saw last November in other cities.
"It's against that background where cross-party support was achieved at Holyrood that I urge elected members in this chamber to follow suit today by tightening up our local policy on fireworks displays under any form of control by PKC."
Liberal Democrat Perth City Centre councillor Peter Barrett said the revised motion was a "distinct disappointment" and requested PKC explore the feasibility of imposing a 90 decibel limit on fireworks.
Councillors Leishman and Drysdale agreed to incorporate the amendment.
Conservative Carse of Gowrie councillor Angus Forbes pledged his support for the restrictions but added: "I am disappointed it's a vastly watered down version of what we saw the last time. I'm fairly convinced that in the real world it won't make any difference to anyone's lives which is disappointing.
"Hopefully it is something that will get the public thinking."
The introduction of tighter restrictions on displays on PKC's land and property was approved.
