Sale and Discharge of Fireworks
Information received from Sue Pollitt, Divisional Trading Standards Officer, Environment and Consumer protection.
Sale of fireworks
There are restrictions on the times at which the sale of fireworks may take place. Unless licenced for all year round sales, fireworks may only be supplied at the following times:
(a) On the first day of the Chinese New Year and the three days immediately preceding it
(b) On the day of Diwali and the three days immediately preceding it
(c) During the period beginning on the 15th October and ending on the 10th November, or
(d) During the period beginning on the 26th December and ending on the 31st December.
There are four retailers in Hillingdon licensed for the sale of fireworks all year round.
Discharge of fireworks
It is illegal to use adult fireworks (basically anything other than sparklers) between the hours of 11pm and 7am. However they may also be used at the following times:
1. On the 5th November: between 11pm and midnight
2. Divali: between 11pm and 1am the following day
3. 31st December: between 11pm and 1am on New Year's Day
4. 1st day of Chinese New Year: between 11pm and 1am the following day
All retailers who registered with Trading Standards their intention to store fireworks were supplied with a notice detailing these hours, and were asked to display it. (There is no legal obligation for them to do so). Most retailers did so as they were seen when the premises were inspected, although no formal note was of this.
Who to Contact
If you are annoyed by fireworks going off at other times of the years and
want to report it, the phone number for the Out of Hours Noise Team is 01895
250111 and they operate at the following times :Thursday 8pm - 2am, Friday 9pm -
3am and Saturday 7pm - 1am.