I THINK Bolton North-east MP David Crausby (Bolton Evening News, October 9) is being a kill-joy, wanting to spoil fireworks for sensible families and people who enjoy letting fireworks off at home, who follow all instructions to the letter and have a happy, safe party.
I would rather see restrictions of the following --
Shops being made, by law, to follow compulsory law-enforced selling periods (three weeks before Nov 5 and up to the 8th, and three weeks up to New Year and a few days after, and two weeks to other national events);
Manufacturers only being allowed to deliver fireworks a week in advance of the selling periods;
Large, powerful Roman multi-shot types and barrages in category 3 display class only being sold to licensed groups and individuals who have had training and certification in the safe use of those fireworks;.
Parents being held responsible to the full force of the law for their children's dangerous firework antics with fines/imprisonment/parenting orders/curfews and anti-social behaviour orders;
Individuals who buy fireworks for under 18s should be fined £2,500 and prosecuted or imprisoned for six months;
All fireworks which bang without aural/visual effect should be banned;
Police having powers to confiscate fireworks from children misusing them and take them home to their parents and prosecute them;
Trading Standards should have powers to refuse future licensing and registration of premises who have been involved in underage sales;
A permit system for people who want to let off domestic garden and display fireworks at other times of the year;
Mail order retailers and all year firework shops being made, by law, to insist on production of a utility bill or letter before fireworks are sold to the customers;
Training and licensing for ALL people running public displays ie pub landlords/hotel staff etc.
My measures are far better than an outright ban.
Anthony Perkins
Plantation Street
Accrington
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