Tameside councillor labels Bonfire Night a "ticking time bomb" and urges firework ban

Tameside councillor Kaleel Khan has proposed a ban on fireworks after havoc was caused in the area on Bonfire Night.

The councillor for Ashton St. Peters Ward took to social media to express his concern about the harmful effect fireworks were having on the general public and animals.

This morning, Cllr Khan and his team of volunteers walked the streets to assess the litter the fireworks had left. 

He said: “Who thinks fireworks should be banned for the general public? They’re bad for the environment, causing pollution and leaving litter everywhere.

"They terrify animals such as cats, dogs, horses and I’m constantly getting calls tonight from my constituents, desperately seeking help. The elderly are especially affected, feeling unsafe and distressed by the noise.”

Cllr Khan shared some scary visuals of fireworks on his social media.

He captioned it: “Are we living in a war zone? This is happening right now. My constituents are terrified. What are authorities going to be doing about this after weeks of reporting my concerns with little action.”

Cllr Khan revealed he had expressed his concerns about fireworks earlier, but it was left unheard.

He said: “I have been raising these concerns with authorities since September, warning them that this situation was a ticking time bomb and that real preventative action was urgently needed. 

"Despite my efforts to engage the relevant parties, the response has been frustratingly inadequate.”