"Wedding fireworks keep waking us up’

ANGRY RESIDENTS FED UP OF LOUD NOISES FROM CELEBRATIONS

- PAIGE OLDFIELD

PEOPLE living on an estate plagued by nuisance fireworks have spoken of their anger.

Residents in the Featherstall area of Oldham say they've been dealing with an ongoing problem with fireworks for years.

The displays take place so late they regularly wake those with jobs and young children - the bangs often continuing up until 1am.

Locals say the fireworks go off up to three times a week and can go on for up to 20 minutes at a time.

While it's believed some displays come from a residential area, many of them take place near The Eastern Pavilion, a wedding venue located on Featherstall Road South.

But owner Adeel Saleem says despite having a no fireworks policy, some parties go ahead and set fireworks off on a public road opposite the venue anyway - leaving him sharing the frustration of those living nearby.

According to UK law, it's an offence to set off or throw fireworks including sparklers - in the street or other public places.

Fireworks must not be set off between 11pm and 7am except for Bonfire Night when the cut off is midnight. The cut off is lam for New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year.

But this doesn't stop wedding parties setting off fireworks well into the night - forcing some residents to go to sleep late to avoid being woken up.

"They're demonstration fireworks and they're expensive," one 55-yearold, who did not wish to give his name, told the M.E.N.

"They can go on for 15 to 20 minutes every time there's a wedding.

"Every time it happens, I have to get the cat in because he doesn't like loud bangs. It's scaring the animals. Sometimes it's not even dark while they're doing it and the birds are flying away.