Families fear fireworks barrage after ban failure

Families in Glasgow say they are living in fear of fireworks misuse after the council's "embarrassing" failure to implement a ban in time for Bonfire Night.

Residents of Pollokshields were told they would get the city's first Fireworks Control Zone (FCZ) covering Bonfire Night this year because they faced the city's most serious firework-related anti-social behaviour.

However, Glasgow City Council missed the deadline to issue a notification and the ban could not go ahead.

It would have been Scotland's second designated control zone after the Scottish government gave councils new powers in 2022 following riots in Dundee.

People living within the proposed zone have already been dealing with more than two weeks of disturbances with street fireworks ahead of 5 November and the only organised display in the area will not go ahead this year.

Theresa Streete, who supported plans for a control zone in her community, said residents were worried about the "limit it puts on our lives at this time of year and the impact it has on children".

She told BBC Scotland News: "I've filled in every consultation, signed every petition, written to everyone and anyone because we've had such a life-limiting experience in firework season, which is lengthy here."

There was a fear of fireworks going off at random times in the day and night or being thrown at people, she added.

A father-of-three told BBC Scotland News he and a group of families with children aged from one to nine had fireworks set off around them at about 20:00 on Halloween.

"We were just unlucky with a huge gang of teenagers setting of fireworks and running from police or another gang, coming down St John's Road from Ayton Road into Albert Drive," he said.

The father, who did not want to be named, said he was shocked when a police van and car drove through the crowd but did not stop to help the families.

In an email sent to a local councillor and seen by the BBC, a police officer confirmed there was a "large group of youths, mostly dressed in black clothing and many wearing masks" gathered in the area.

He said several youths were stopped and searched, and fireworks and a weapon were seized.

Police Scotland was not able to confirm whether any arrests were made.

A spokeswoman said: “I would like to reassure communities across Glasgow that officers will be out and about to deal with issues that may arise.

"This includes enhanced patrols and specialist public order officers if needed."

Other residents told the BBC they had seen fireworks being thrown in parks and streets.

Diarmuid Simpson said he had changed his route home from his seven-year-old daughter's school after a lit firework was thrown towards them when they were walking home last week.

"We were walking past Maxwell Square Park when the firework landed on the pavement in front of us and exploded," he said.

"Three boys aged between about nine and 14 ran off, one on an e-scooter.

"I've already told my child we can come home earlier from afterschool club and walk on the other side of the road, and we'll avoid that street completely if needed to avoid being targeted again," he said.

Casings of used fireworks around his daughter's school gates included 25-shot cakes that retail at £50 and reach a height of 25m (80ft), and Roman candles classified as a 1.3G hazard.

Kenny Barbour from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said their officers had been visiting schools in the past week to deliver bonfire and fireworks safety talks.

"We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable Bonfire Night, and the public is being urged to attend public events wherever possible as this is the safest way to watch fireworks," he said.

However, the only organised display within the control zone area will not go ahead this year after confusion about how the the FCZ would affect the required licence.

In a post on social media, the organisers of the annual event at Clydesdale Cricket and Hockey Club said their event was cancelled "due to licencing issues that became apparent upon the announcement of the Fireworks Control Zone in Pollokshields".

Alternative Guy Fawkes events have been organised by Youth Community Support Agency (YCSA) - a charity supporting Black and Minority Ethnic young people - in Pollokshields and neighbouring Govanhill.

Anwari Din said she was expecting about 100 children and teenagers at an Pollokshields event at Glendale Primary School.

"We've been doing this for a number of years to get the kids off the streets," she said.

"Within Pollokshields there have been young people setting off fireworks all over the place and really upsetting people."

Pollokshields Cllr Jon Molyneux, who is campaigning for fireworks to be banned across the whole city from 2025 to avoid stigmatising some areas, said the failure to implement the FCZ this year had been a "real blow".

At a full council meeting SNP Cllr Ruairi Kelly responded to his question about the failed FCZ, saying it was "regrettable and, quite honestly, embarrassing that not all firework control regulations will be available to us this year".

"Residents can be assured that the council continues to work closely with partner agencies to ensure that enforcement action is going to be carried out," he added.

A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: "We do work alongside the police and the fire service in relation to Bonfire Night and our role is around removing material that could be used for a bonfire in public places, Trading Standards checks on the sale of fireworks, CCTV monitoring and coordination," he said.

It is working through responses to a public consultation on a citywide FCZ in Glasgow, which ended on 20 October.