Concern over firework displays sparks debate

Last year, about 18,000 people attended Fawkes in the Walks in King's Lynn

A council has rejected a call for it to stop using fireworks in public celebrations over concerns about noise and pollution.

Campaigners told a meeting of King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council they were a "waste" of money and resources.

West Lynn Action Group spokeswoman Karen Champion said the council should consider using drones or light displays instead.

Sue Lintern, the councillor responsible for events, said fireworks were "extremely popular" and better value for money than the alternatives.

She added that the council's displays attract "more than 20,000 residents and visitors" and brought economic benefits to the town, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Light-up drones are becoming a more common site in major public events

The biggest annual fireworks display in King's Lynn is "Fawkes in the Walks".

Costing the council £18,000 to put on, the free event draws in thousands of people every year around 5 November.

The authority also uses fireworks for one-off events, such as the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

However, Ms Champion said her group's members were concerned about the impact on "air quality, noise levels and waste" and should "consider more modern forms of celebration".

"The celebration of the Olympics has shown there's a huge variety of inspirational ways of celebrating events, with light shows and drone-based displays" she said.

Sue Lintern said fireworks were seen as "a cherished tradition" by many people

"Our displays remain extremely popular," replied Lintern, speaking for the council which is run by the Independent Partnership Group.

"At present, the cost of delivering a drone display that offers a similar level of visual impact is significantly higher than a traditional fireworks show, which we currently provide at a cost of less than a pound per head."

Speaking after the meeting, Ms Champion insisted she was "not a party-pooper" but felt the council were "very old-fashioned in what they do".