A call to restrict the days when fireworks can be set off has rejected by the Council of Ministers.

Ministers have responded to a select committee on the Fireworks Act 2004, which was established following a Tynwald Day petition by campaigner Judith Corrin.

In November last year, Mrs Corrin’s neighbour organised a bonfire and firework display which left her animals, two horses and three donkeys, traumatised.

She said how despite trying to get her animals into a barn and playing a loud radio, the fireworks left one horse ’dripping in sweat and panicked’ and a young donkey ’very upset’.

The committee, chaired by Daphne Caine (Garff) set down several recommendations, which have all been accepted by the Council of Ministers, except for the recommendation on limiting the days when fireworks can be purchased and set off without a permit.

The rejected recommendation was that the exempted dates around Bonfire Night be reduced from 10 to seven days from the November 2 to November 8 each year. However, ministers have said this would be ’unnecessarily restrictive’.

CoMin added: ’The current period in which restrictions for setting off a firework are specifically exempted provide for a moving 10 day period which includes two Fridays, two Saturdays and two Sundays to allow for weather related delays in order that the next weekend is available for postponement.

’The original period was fixed dates and longer at 14 days to provide for two weekends a period beginning on October 25 and ending on November 7 this was changed to reduce the period whilst still providing for two weekends.

’In the event that the period was reduced to November 2 until November 8 it would not allow for weather postponement to the next weekend.

’As a result some display organisers having spent out on purchasing fireworks etc would simply have to cancel their event and it is suspected with no fall back date such events will be reduced which could result in more fireworks being let off in home displays.’

lRamsey’s November 5 display, see page 15.