Causeway Coast & Glens councillor hits out at lack of progress on quieter Halloween fireworks
Inset: TUV councillor Jonathan McAuley
TUV councillor Jonathan McAuley has expressed disappointment over what he says is a lack of progress by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council on exploring alternatives to traditional fireworks at its Halloween events.
The councillor raised the issue again during September’s Environmental Services Committee meeting, almost a year after suggesting that options including silent fireworks and drone shows should be considered.
Concerns over impact of fireworks
Cllr McAuley first raised the proposal last November after being contacted by several constituents who expressed concerns about the distress caused by fireworks to pets and livestock, as well as children and older people.
He suggested the council consider alternatives such as silent fireworks or drone displays for its official Halloween events.
The issue resurfaced during September’s Environmental Services Committee meeting, when members were asked to approve the council’s response to a UK consultation on fireworks and pyrotechnics.
Cllr McAuley said he had understood that his earlier proposal would subsequently be considered by the council’s Leisure and Development Committee, but questioned why it had apparently not progressed.
“Never once did I see it on the agenda,” he said.
“Maybe I missed it, but I reminded Pat (Mulvenna, council’s head of Leisure) several times about that and it never came to Leisure and Development, that I saw.”
‘We’re no further forward’
With Halloween approaching again, Cllr McAuley expressed frustration at the apparent lack of movement on the proposal.
“I thought maybe back in November we’d be closer to having it ready for this year, but we’re nearly a year further along, and nearly at Halloween again, and we’re no further forward.”
In response, Director of Environmental Services Aidan McPeake said he would liaise with Leisure and Development staff to “remind them of the decision” and bring a report back to a future committee meeting.
The commitment means the issue is set to return to councillors, although no timetable was given for when a report would be presented or whether any alternative to traditional fireworks could be introduced in time for this year’s Halloween events.
