ST HELENS Council has welcomed Government plans to tighten control over firework sales but will continue to seek even tougher restrictions than those proposed.

The council believes that the consultation document to tackle dangerous fireworks, launched by Consumer Affairs Minister Nigel Griffiths, does not go far enough.

After a two-month public consultation exercise, the minister is proposing a complete ban on:

Large bangers.

Jumping crackers and other erratic fireworks.

Aerial shells of the type which killed a schoolmaster last November.

Fireworks which fail to comply with British Standard 7114.

He also plans to raise the age limit for buying fireworks from 16 to 18, with strict enforcement by trading standards officers, and to prevent the splitting-up of boxed fireworks.

By December 31, the minister will also act against all remaining bangers and mini-rockets and introduce compulsory labelling laws for sparklers and other fireworks.

Welcoming the proposals, Ken Wardale, Chief Trading Standards Officer for St Helens Council, said: "We are especially pleased at the raising of the age limit on sales and the ban on bangers and will closely monitor shops selling fireworks to teenagers in the borough."

But Mr Wardale added that the council still urged an outright ban on all sales to the public as the only effective way to stop firework injuries and hooliganism. This would not affect organised displays by trained operators.

Over a four-week period in October and November last year, there were 1,233 reported casualties, including two deaths, in UK firework accidents. But these figures are widely recognised as only the tip of the iceberg.

Though the borough does not record local statistics, trading standards officers received more complaints than usual about fireworks being let-off in the streets.

Councillor Richard Ward, chairman of the Housing and Environmental Services Committee, said: "We are pleased the Government has acknowledged the value of our suggestions last year. While we recognise a general ban on sales is unlikely in the near future, we will continue to press for one but we remain particularly concerned at the length of time that fireworks are available.

"We want the period reduced from five or six weeks to no more than three days before November 5 and believe this should be a legal requirement rather than a voluntary code of practice."

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