Residents in the Felixstowe area are being invited to share their views on whether the rules for firework displays on council-owned land should be reconsidered.

As part of its responsibility to protect East Suffolk's communities, animals and environment, East Suffolk Council is carrying out a review into firework displays on council-owned land and has launched a new consultation to better understand how residents feel about them.

Firework displays are widely enjoyed by many people, however the noise associated with loud fireworks can cause a great deal of distress to some people as well as pets, farm animals and wildlife.

Furthermore, fireworks also have impacts on the environment, with the releases of pollutants having the potential to contribute to air quality issues, and the associated waste and falling debris leading to unnecessary litter with the potential to cause direct harm to livestock and wildlife.

The council is therefore considering whether new measures need to be introduced, based on the feedback they receive from residents.

Cllr James Mallinder, cabinet member for the environment, said: "For many people fireworks are a fun and enjoyable way of marking significant occasions. However, fireworks can be a real concern for some people as well as pets, farm animals and wildlife.

"This consultation is absolutely not about encouraging a wholesale ban on events of this kind, but acknowledging, as a Council, that we have a responsibility to lead by example and considerthe negative impacts thatfireworks can have on people and animals. And this starts with events that we permit on our own land.

"We want to begin a conversation about how making small changes in our celebrations can have a positive impact on our communities and environment and I want to encourage as many people as possible to get involved in the consultation so we can get a better understanding of the views of our residents."

Opening on Friday 25 March 2022, the consultation runs until Friday 20 May 2022.

Have your say now.