A BRADFORD Councillor has echoed recent calls for a rethink on fireworks.

Last weekend, the T&A highlighted issues of late night displays in Wibsey and Canterbury. The story included condemnation from Cllr Ralph Berry, Lib Dems leader Jeanette Sunderland and Bradford West MP Naz Shah.

Bradford Moor Ward Cllr Mohammad Shafiq has now added his voice to the matter, saying the economic benefits of fireworks need to be balanced out with the environmental costs.

He said: "Year after year, councillors echo the concerns of residents when it comes to the devastation of rogue fireworks blighting our communities and a rethink is needed to tackle this issue.

"Just this week, I received emails from a number of people highlighting loud bangs after 11pm which is affecting both humans and animals for a variety of reasons. One resident has passed on a draft motion for councils on fireworks from the RSPCA which I will be raising with my colleagues on Bradford City Council but we need to go much further.

"Whilst we have to balance the needs of consumers at weddings along with people letting fireworks off in the privacy of their own gardens, education would be a key factor in the long term to reduce the environmental and local community impact this pastime causes.

"We’re in the middle of a climate emergency but the chemicals in these fireworks are hardly spoken about and we let them spray in the air every year for our own entertainment.

"Firework sales bring in millions of pounds each year but we also need to balance economic benefits with the environmental costs."

Cllr Shafiq feels a collective approach is needed by everyone for true change to happen.

He added: "If we really want to reduce this impact then collectivity will be vital and it is something we cannot change in isolation.

"We need consistent collective bargaining from animal charities, local resident groups, environmentalists, along with councillors as our concerns are often raised in isolation and easy to brush off.

"Improving any situation for the greater good is often a collective endeavour which I have seen happen time after time again in our communities from working together to ensure gullies get cleaned by moving cars when the gully wagon arrives to clean up operations in our streets and parks where residents volunteer alongside council workers.

"Last year, I commented on the death of a baby kitten that spent its final moments with a firework attached to its tail. Whilst cases like this are on the extreme end and rare, it is a specific case that makes a good argument for fireworks to only be licensed to certain individuals but that is something for the electorate to decide."

The councillor mentions a reason why late night fireworks are not acceptable before giving a final plea for people to report such activities.

"Children are back at school and a good rest the night before is vital if they are to take full advantage of their education. If we can sacrifice our entertainment for anything then it would surely be worth doing it for them?

"I would encourage anyone disturbed by fireworks to get in touch with your local councillors as more information you give us equals more leverage to initiate change. As politicians we are led by you and not our own personal interests.

"In the meantime I will proactively seek opinions from residents in Bradford Moor and raise them in any way I can."

Bradford Council say a draft scrutiny review report on fireworks will be considered by the Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on Thursday, October 14.