Oldham fireworks misery as residents kept up 'every night'

From Lees to Chadderton and Westwood, neighbours across the borough have taken to social media to report fireworks going off at unsociable hours, disturbing their peace and scaring their pets.

Diane Grogan, from Lees, said her "petrified" pooch, Storm, has been clinging on to her "every night" as a result of the loud bangs.

She said a series of fireworks went off in the early hours of Tuesday (August 29) morning, from around 12.15am for 30 to 40 minutes, though the concerned pet owner said it is becoming a nightly occurrence.

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Ms Grogan said: "It's not like it's once or even twice - it's every night and it goes on at all hours.

"Storm absolutely shakes and her heart races.

"Whatever the reason people set them off, please be more considerate and buy the silent ones."

The problem has become so bad that she said she's purchasing a thunder jacket for little Storm in a bid to calm the dog down.

Ms Grogan continued: "The problem is we don't know when they are going to be set off. It's rude and illegal.

"It's after midnight - my husband is up for work at 4am so we need our peace and quiet."

A spectacle of fireworks can be seen thundering above residential homes (Image: Daz Kenny)

Nearby in Chadderton, Daz Kenny said he and his neighbours have been kept up throughout most of August due to fireworks being set off on Clayton Playing Fields.

Mr Kenny said he reported the issue in August last year and recognises that while fireworks go on most of the year, the summer month "appears to be a peak time for it".

Video footage captured of one incident in mid-August by Mr Kenny from the window of his home shows fireworks lighting up a row of houses while continuously thundering high into the sky.

He said the fireworks "go off anytime after dark" and has documented incidents from 11pm to 3am which he called "regular" time periods.

Frustrated by a lack of action, Mr Kenny said he has contacted the police and has now been told there is a meeting due to take place in September with the force and a local, unnamed councillor in order to address the issue.

Discarded fireworks found off Featherstall Road (Image: Delena Knowles)

Another resident in Chadderton said it's "bad enough hearing them" every night but has been appalled to discover discarded boxes of fireworks and litter left behind.

Delena Knowles found boxes of used fireworks, labelled 'max box' with '100 shots' in per box, at the top of Featherstall Road off Arkwright Street.

Though the exact brand of fireworks cannot be determined from the box, similar '100 shot max box' of fireworks start from £198 and are described as "packing a punch".

They shoot vertically in a multitude of colours with "massive" effects, like palms, strobes and 'dragon eggs'.

Epic Fireworks gives its '100 shots' box of fireworks a noise rating of 10 out of 10.

Ms Knowles, who has lived in the area for more than two decades, said: "They were horrendous last night - at 12am - they were so loud.

"It's nearly every day but nobody seems to be doing anything - the council won't do anything about it, the police won't do nothing.

"It's a disruption for everybody. People have got to get up for work early in the morning. I work.

"There are kids with autism and ADHD that are scared of loud noises.

"Poor animals are frightened, old people that are frightened.

"There's no consideration for anybody else."

Storm is petrified every night due to the fireworks (Image: Diane Grogan)

Another photograph captured by another resident shows a box of Scorpion 'world destroyer' fireworks that came in a carton of three found on Middleton Road.

At an average price of around £300 for the container, another firework shop describes the package as containing 192 shots with a "huge range of variety" to give "the viewing public a spectacular all-in-one firework display".

The fireworks from this container are estimated to travel up to 25 metres and last 111 seconds, including a "top-notch" array of colourful strobes, star effects and crackling sounds.

Others on social media confirmed fireworks were being set off on Tuesday (August 29) morning as of 1.30am.

A resident commented: "Nothing they'll do. Zilch. It's too hard to police.

"I've been reporting it for years.

"We've had enough now and we are moving out of Oldham.

"It's going to become the norm sadly."

Another box of used fireworks on Middleton Road is estimated to cost hundreds of pounds (Image: Carole Schofield)

It's not the first time residents have been driven to their wit's end by the problem either as several told The Oldham Times in August last year that the fireworks plague their livelihoods and have affected their sleep "for years".

Residents in Royton said the situation worsened last year as the fireworks seemingly evolved into larger, industrial or display-type explosions, with one even driven close to tears by the persistent racket.

The then leader of the council, Amanda Chadderton, said the Fireworks Regulations 2004 Act prohibits the use of fireworks between 11pm and 7am but that the "council are specifically not allowed to enforce these regulations".

Instead, she urged those concerned to report it to police by calling 101 or online, though she did admit that she had heard of Clayton Playing Fields and near Tesco car park on Featherstall Road being hotspots for complaints.

Ms Chadderton said officers were also in touch with wedding venues to outline the legislation.

Oldham Council has been approached for a comment and an update on the situation.

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