IT is “absolutely ridiculous” to have to wait years for potential tighter firework regulations, animal welfare advocates have said.
The Home Affairs Minister revealed yesterday that a consultation seeking Islanders’ views on firework and pyrotechnic policy development will be launched by the end of this year.
But Deputy Mary Le Hergarat said that findings and recommendations for any future policy or legislation will not be presented to the States Assembly until June 2028.
The wait is far too long according to Dru Burdon at the Jersey Hedgehog Preservation Group who says it “needs to be done” sooner.
“It’s ridiculous,” she said. “Some pets get really distressed outside by this. Some people’s horses get really upset.”
This was the case for one Islander who told the JEP that her horse died as a result of a neighbour’s garden display several years ago, which she was not warned about.
Rebecca Hefford, 71, from St Mary said her horse broke its back in four places and was “banging its head against the wall” because of the stress caused by the loud noises.
“Our next-door neighbours had a huge bonfire and fireworks and they didn’t tell us. They [the fireworks] were all landing on top of the stables,” she said.
Ms Hefford described the timespan for changes to be implemented as “absolutely ridiculous”.
Last year, a survey found the majority of Islanders supported tighter controls – including advance notice, limits on when fireworks can be used, and caps on noise levels.
Currently, fireworks are regulated under the Explosives (Jersey) Law 1970, which only controls the retail of them, and not their use.
To address this gap, the Explosives (Jersey) Law 2014 was approved by the States Assembly in 2014 and registered by the Royal Court.
It provided regulation-making powers to address all aspects of supply, possession, and use, with the potential to create better protections for persons, animals, and property.
However, this law has not yet come into force because it was intended for firework regulations to be ready so the two could be launched together.
The work on the detailed fireworks regulations began in 2017 but was delayed because staff resources were diverted to support the pandemic response.
It recommenced for a time in 2023, but did not progress any further due to “other extensive legislative commitments”, the Home Affairs Minister said.
But Deputy Le Hegaret has now accepted a proposition from Deputy Max Andrews which means a consultation will take place to gather views from the public, animal welfare organisations, and other relevant stakeholders on the effects of noise and disturbance on pets, livestock, and individuals.
