Lib Dems demand answers from Council on fireworks

The Oldham Liberal Democrats are asking for evidence of action from Oldham Council on their fireworks policy, after nights of post-midnight explosions have kept local residents awake.

A 2022 motion was passed by the Council introducing a Challenge 25 policy, advertising of any events in advance to local residents, and a requirement for community notification for private events.

None of these are listed as policies or requirements on the Council’s website, and so Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani has written to the chief executive asking for details of how the community notification scheme is being run and how many shops are participating in the Challenge 25 scheme.

He said: “This has been an ongoing problem for several years; we come into the summer months and these fireworks displays start. That’s why we proposed a motion calling for action in 2021, and why despite voting against it then, Labour voted through the policy a year later.

“The Council should be able to demonstrate the action that it has taken on this issue – I hope it can, as residents deserve to know that they are being listened to, and that the steps we proposed off the back of their concerns have been taken.”

As well as the list of actions that were proposed in the September 2022 motion, the Council wrote to the Home Secretary to request changes to the law around fireworks, but the Home Office has still not responded, nearly a year later.

Sam continued: “It’s sad that the current Conservative Government just seems to be incapable of the basics – never mind introducing new laws, they haven’t even managed to reply to a letter.”