A new campaign aimed at tackling the anti-social use of fireworks across Bradford district has been launched by Bradford Council.
The initiative, titled “Bang Out of Order”, seeks to raise awareness of the nuisance and distress caused by fireworks and encourage tougher action against their misuse.
A particular focus of the campaign will be the use of fireworks at wedding celebrations, which residents have frequently identified as a source of disruption.
The anti-social use of fireworks has been a longstanding issue across Bradford. A cross-party review by Bradford Council in 2021 found the problem was widespread throughout the district, but concluded that without changes to national legislation, local authorities faced significant challenges in effectively tackling it.
Since then, efforts have included engagement with wedding venues and joint work with Trading Standards to address illegal firework sales.
Now, the Reform-led administration has unveiled a renewed campaign aimed at reducing the impact of fireworks on local communities.
In a statement, Bradford Council said the anti-social use of fireworks continues to cause significant concern for residents.
“It is an offence to set off fireworks on any land without the landowner’s permission. This includes all land owned by Bradford Council, including parks and public roads. It is also an offence to let fireworks off after 11pm in almost all circumstances.
“Residents across the district have complained about this for several years, as fireworks disturb sleep, cause distress to people with noise sensitivities, upset pets and can have a serious impact on those living with conditions such as PTSD.”
As part of the campaign, the council is:
- Meeting owners and managers of wedding venues to seek their support.
- Continuing to lobby the Government and support plans for a national consultation on tougher firework laws, including lower legal noise limits.
- Working with partners, including West Yorkshire Trading Standards, to tackle the illegal sale of fireworks.
The initiative is also being supported by campaign group Ban the Menace Fireworks and a number of wedding venues across the district, including Mashriq on New Otley Road.
Councillor Ian Walker, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Neighbourhoods and Communities, said: “Fireworks have been a headache for people living in our district for many years and we share the frustration felt by many residents.
“We need to push for changes in legislation to tackle the illegal sale of fireworks and reduce noise levels. Working with partners and wedding venues strengthens our message, and we are grateful for the support we have already received.”
David Strover, Head of Trading Standards – Business Services, said while fireworks can be enjoyed responsibly at certain times of the year, their use throughout the year continues to cause problems for communities across West Yorkshire.
He said: “We would encourage people to only buy fireworks from reputable outlets, ensure safety instructions and warnings are labelled in English and check they carry either a CE mark or UKCA mark.
“Consumers should also consider others when setting off fireworks and avoid using them in public places or at inappropriate times of the day or night. West Yorkshire Trading Standards works closely with the police, fire service and local authorities to tackle illegal sales and misuse, and we will continue to do so throughout 2026.”
Among the venues backing the campaign is Mashriq, which has already adopted a strict no-fireworks policy for wedding celebrations.
Nadeem Ali, of Mashriq, said: “At Mashriq, we are committed to reducing the disruption caused by the anti-social use of fireworks. We have worked closely with Bradford Council to champion the Bang Out of Order initiative.
“We are pleased that other wedding venues have followed our lead by introducing strict no-firework policies, helping ensure people can celebrate special occasions while respecting the wider community.”
