Yorks new firework enforcement patrols

For the first time, officers from City of York Council’s Community Safety Hub will be working alongside police colleagues on Bonfire Night weekend to tackle fireworks-related incidents using their new Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) powers.

This pilot scheme will run on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 November alongside regular police enforcement and the weekend noise patrol and will include additional support for residents needing advice on fireworks.

Legislation says that fireworks can only be bought and owned by people aged 18 and over and can only be let off between 7am and 11pm but on 5 November they can be used until midnight – and should not be thrown at all. Category 4 fireworks can only be used by professionals and it is an offence for a member of the public to have one.

Officers advise that noisier fireworks are better for early evening events while later in the evening, opt for fireworks with colour rather than noise. The fireworks should be lit away from neighbouring properties to minimise their impact on others.

Anyone with concerns about firework danger should call the police on 101, while for concerns about noise levels, please call the council’s noise patrol line on 01904 551 555 which will be live from 9pm to 3am on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 November. If the line is engaged, please leave a message and it will be answered.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents’ firework code is at: www.saferfireworks.com/

bonfires

Park and Ride site to be used for fireworks display?

The Council has approved a licensing application which could see the Rawcliffe Bar car park used for open air entertainment events.

It transpires that this may include the “Kaboom” fireworks display scheduled to take place on 3rd November.

Why the Council should leave the licensing application, until only a couple of weeks before the event is scheduled to take place, will be a cause for speculation..

Council apply for Rawcliffe car park entertainment license

The York Council wants to permit outdoor entertainments to be staged at the Rawcliffe Park and Ride site.

They are applying to extend the license that currently applies to the adjacent Rawcliffe Country Park.

Rawcliffe Park and Ride site

Rawcliffe Park and Ride site

The application is phrased to give the impression that the car park will be commandeered if the adjacent country park is unsuitable for outdoor events – for example as a result of flooding.

However the requested hours of operation cover the full week and in particular the times when the car park is heavily used for the park and ride service.

The entertainment license would apply between 09:00hours to 2200 hours except Fridays and Saturdays when the hours extend to 2300 hours.

No explanation for the circumstances in which the license would be used have been provided for a committee meeting which is taking place on Thursday 24th October.

The main problems are likely to arise if organisers start setting up during the hours that the car park is normally in heavy use.

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NB. A fireworks display and outdoor entertainment event is scheduled to take place at the Rawcliffe Country Park on Sunday 3rd November.

Called “Kaboom” it is advertised as the counties biggest fireworks display. Last year a similar event resulted in extensive damage to the Rawcliffe Country Park because of wet conditions.

Plans to hold the Galtres Festival at Rawcliffe earlier this year were abandoned in favour of a venue near Helmsley.