Things to remember for a safe 5 November
For many of us, Bonfire Night means watching fireworks, lighting sparklers and toasting marshmallows. For others it’s about keeping our pets calm or hoping the kids don’t wake up to a bang!
Whatever Bonfire night looks like for you, there’s plenty of things you can do to enjoy the festivities safely.
Below you will find information on what you can do if you need to report an issue to a local service, as well as details about events and activities for young people, over the next few days.
Child safety and activities for young people
If your child is planning to go out around Bonfire Night, make sure you know where they are and how to get in touch with them. Now the evenings are getting darker, it’s more important than ever that we maximise our visibility Maximise your visibility and your vision on the road | wirral.gov.uk
Advice for our furry friends
Many animals find fireworks scary. If your pet is struggling, it's hard to know how to react or what to do. Especially if you're a new pet parent, it may not be something you've even considered in advance of firework season.
You can tune into Pet Classics with Charlotte Hawkins on 5th November between 5pm and 9pm on Classic FM to help soothe pets during fireworks season.
If you’re looking for some further advice and guidance on how to support your pet pals through Bonfire night, there are some helpful hints and tips on the RSPCA website that may be helpful.
Firework safety
Wirral’s Trading Standards team have been carrying out inspections at businesses selling fireworks to ensure they comply with their legal responsibilities on age restricted sales. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to possess or use fireworks in a public place.
If you have any concerns about retailers who are not licensed, shops not storing fireworks appropriately, selling fireworks that do not display appropriate safety marks or selling to anyone under 18, you can alert the team by email tradingstandards@wirral.gov.uk or by calling 0808 223 1133.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue have shared their top tips for staying safe during bonfire night – check these out on their website.
If you are thinking about having your own display at home or attending a display, please visit Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service’s website for their specific tips on firework and sparkler safety.
Unauthorised bonfires and advice on bins
Any public outdoor bonfire events must have been considered by the council and its partners via the Wirral Event Safety Advisory Group (WESAG) so that advice, guidance and support have been provided to help keep everyone safe. Unauthorised fires leave the community exposed to safety risks and those who have organised them open to civil action and/or prosecution for offences such as criminal damage.
Biffa, the council’s waste contractor, and teams across the council will be supporting Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service (MFRS) in removing any material that can be used for bonfires and fly-tipped waste. You can report any build-up of combustible material that could be used for deliberate fires via the MFRS website here.
Residents are advised to only put their bins out on collection day and to bring them back in as soon as they have been emptied.
How to report anti-social behaviour
You can report anti-social behaviour online via My Wirral. You can also call 0151 606 2020 or email neighbour.nuisance@wirral.gov.uk.
Lines are open 8.45am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. An answerphone service is provided out of hours and your call will be returned the following working day.
If you are a tenant of a registered housing provider, please contact them directly.
Out of hours
You can also contact Wirral Community Patrol 24 hours a day to request attendance at an incident of anti-social behaviour on to 0151 666 5265. If you are a tenant of a registered housing provider, please contact them directly.
In an emergency, always dial 999.
