'Organised' Fireworks

[scruffyponies]

This was Saturday's organised public display - fireworks are let off just the other side of the fence from the ponies.

If you watch closely, you can see the herd galloping, lit up by the explosives.
Checked them afterwards, and they were fine, but it makes me so cross that the local Council allow it, and there's nothing I can do.

Not being a killjoy, I haven't asked them to stop it... just to find an alternative location or use 'quiet' fireworks, which are widely available.
Seems I am being unreasonable.

 

[JackFrost]

I think this is appalling and utterly irresponsible. As asking politely clearly doesn't work, I would be speaking to the local councillor or MP. Even councils will need to have a license, insurance etc and protocols for safety at public events. There was real risk to your horses and also to the general public if frightened horses had escaped. The Council needs to take this seriously.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Ask to see the risk assessment. When it doesn't state what they will do about panicked horses breaking down fences and trampling over spectators, speak to HSE about it.

 

[Shoei]

I saw something recently that it is illegal to set off fireworks close to Livestock. I would definitely contact your MP

 

[scruffyponies]

I saw something recently that it is illegal to set off fireworks close to Livestock. I would definitely contact your MP

This is true. It's against the Animal Welfare Act. Sadly, neither local authority or police are interested. Tried that.

 

[scruffyponies]

Ask to see the risk assessment. When it doesn't state what they will do about panicked horses breaking down fences and trampling over spectators, speak to HSE about it.

That is a great idea. Woudl be interesting to see if their insurance covers injury/death to adjacent livestock too.

 

[JackFrost]

In my experience, both with the public and private sector, going down the formal complaint route is the way to get a response in these situations. They are resourced and have targets for handling and resolving issues, and have better qualified staff on these teams.
They will be fearful of the matter escalating or needing legal resource or facing scrutiny of their (inadequate) internal processes.

In most cases you can put in a complaint on any reasonable matter, and once it is being handled by the complaints team you will get sensible people willing to have sensible discussions. Look at what the route is for a FORMAL complaint against your council.

 

[scruffyponies]

I should have beeen clearer - the group organising isn't the council, although I presume that the council is still responsible for animal welfare, public safety etc, as it is an event on land owned by a public trust
.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I should have beeen clearer - the group organising isn't the council, although I presume that the council is still responsible for animal welfare, public safety etc, as it is an event on land owned by a public trust
.

But presumably the council has granted a licence, when really they shouldn't have done so.

 

[scruffyponies]

But presumably the council has granted a licence, when really they shouldn't have done so.

I presume so too. I think these things need a public event licence, if not a specific one for explosives.
They use a professional sub-contractor, so it's not clear who does what.

 

[Burnttoast]

You have all my sympathy - this is my worst nightmare. I find even the word fireworks a bit triggering these days. Our local display is 800m away but I still have to make sure I'm up with the ponies in case of the need to ring the vet, make sure they're in a certain field where they have the space to gallop, which they will, and them watch them being terrified. Some of the weird noises modern fireworks make absolutely petrify my boy in particular. Good advice above, particularly about the risk assessment.