RESIDENTS of Basingstoke and Deane wishing to hold a public firework display must advertise their events in advance to mitigate the impacts the loud bangs can have on vulnerable residents and animals.

The borough council last week passed a motion requesting all organisers to let neighbours know about their events so people can prepare for them.

They will also launch a public awareness campaign on the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people, and write to the government urging them to limit the noise of fireworks displays to 90 decibels.

The council will also encourage local suppliers to stock quieter fireworks.

It comes after The Gazette reported earlier this year how a nurse from Hatch Warren had pleaded with the public to stop releasing fireworks during the weekly Clap for Carers event, saying that the loud noises reduced her rescue dog to a "quivering wreck".

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council voted in favour of the motion last week.

Labour group leader Cllr Andy McCormick, who proposed the request, said that he was a "big fan" of fireworks displays and had "missed them" this year, after many were cancelled due to the November lockdown.

"But what I think a lot don't like so much is the anti-social behaviour that generally tends to start mid-October and carries on until the end of November."

He said that modern fireworks had become "considerably more powerful and considerably louder", labelling his call "an attempt to get a degree of control over an activity that should be enjoyable".

But other councillors accused Cllr McCormick's "legislation" to be to intrusive and controlling, including portfolio holder Cllr Tristan Robinson.

The Sherborne St John councillor said: "This motion seeks to impose restrictions on the right of private citizens to hold a firework display on their own land, something I cannot support.

"Fireworks are a great source of entertainment. It is simply not the role of this council to restrict what volume fireworks should be.

"Motions like this are often geared towards controlling fun or banning things they don't like.

"I appreciate Cllr McCormick's view on this but if he is intent on banning things he doesn't like I suggest he starts next year with opposition parties and not on a toddler's right to enjoy a freezing cold evening holding a sparkler."

Agreeing with his cabinet colleague, Cllr Mark Ruffell said: "This has got everything to do with the fact that a number of people over the years, especially of the younger variety, tend to let things off and have great fun letting things off in all sorts of strange locations.

"It is telling people what to do in micro detail. We have lived through a year of being nannied and we have all got different views on it. This is an issue that we just don't need to be nannied on.

"If there is anti-social behaviour where you live then deal with it that way."

But Cllr Angie Freeman said that more consideration was necessary for people with mental health issues, such as veterans or those with anxiety.

"A lot of our elderly residents came down from the London overspill and they said it is like being in the Blitz."

Cllr Freeman continued to say that firework displays used to be about the "colour, sparkle and spectacle" and that in recent years the displays have got louder.

But whilst veteran, Cllr Stuart Frost, said that he didn't like fireworks and wished neighbours would give him notice of displays, he "recognises people's rights" to let off fireworks.

35 councillors voted in favour of the motion, with six abstentions and 13 voting against.

Among those voting against were Cllrs: Tony Capon, Onnalee Cubitt, Stuart Frost, David George, John Izett, Clare Kinnear, Paul Miller, Ken Rhatigan, Nicholas Robinson, Tristan Robinson, Mark Ruffell, Clive Sanders and Michael Westbrook.