St Albans council debate quieter fireworks

Ahead of this week’s full council meeting, Cllr Mike Hobday (Lab, London Colney) had suggested fireworks with a noise level over 90 decibels should be banned on land owned or managed by the council from October 2025.

But council leader Cllr Paul De Kort warned that there could be “unintended consequences” to such a decision that would “inhibit” the yearly St Albans Fireworks Spectacular.

Council leader Paul De Kort (Image: St Albans City and District Council)

He said: “We may well find there was not only much less money raised for those extremely good causes but also an increase in the disturbance to animal welfare [if more people then organised their own private fireworks displays].

“Public displays which are organised, which are planned, which have set times and have controls, I would think are always better than fireworks going off in the street at random intervals. I think too much of that happens now, to be honest.”

Introducing his motion, Cllr Hobday described Britain as “a nation of animal lovers” and said he was seeking to build on a 2020 council motion that called on the government to ban fireworks louder than 90 decibels at private events.

Fireworks Spectacular (Image: Jackie's Jaunts)

He continued: “To me, this is a moral issue. We should work hard to lessen the impact fireworks have on wildlife, domestic pets and people with noise sensitivities.

“Where we own the land, as we do at Verulamium, this moral onus falls on us.

“Officers write every year to the cathedral chapter to request that they use quieter fireworks going forward. But every year the cathedral … say no.

“It’s therefore time for us to strengthen our approach … it is time for St Albans Council to take a lead.

“Where we control the land, and hence the fireworks, let us be a beacon of the practice that four years ago we asked others to emulate. But let us be courteous to the cathedral chapter – let’s give them 12 months’ notice.”

A briefing note provided to councillors said that restricting the use of fireworks would put the annual fireworks spectacular “at risk”.

It said the fireworks would be “less exciting because noise is part of the visceral attraction of a fireworks display … quieter fireworks result in a less impressive display”.

The report added restrictions could have a “potential adverse economic effect on community groups and their local fundraising efforts”, with the fireworks event having donated more than £900,000 to charities since it began forty years ago.

It was decided that the matter will be referred to St Albans City & District Council’s public realm committee, which is next due to meet on November 12.