Update: Firework Exclusion Zone

Over the past few months, Renfrew Community Council has been listening to residents who shared concerns about the impact of fireworks.

Where issues are raised, our approach is to test them properly before deciding what action is possible. In this case, that meant requesting incident data through Freedom of Information requests from Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

The responses confirmed that no firework-related incidents were recorded for the areas and period requested. While the experiences shared by residents were genuine and distressing, they do not, on their own, provide the independent evidence required for regulatory or enforcement-based action.

Based on that evidence, and the role of the Community Council, the decision has been taken to close this work for the current year.

This does not mean residents weren’t listened to, or that their experiences don’t matter. It means that when the evidence doesn’t support further action, we say so clearly rather than creating expectations we can’t meet.

The work carried out has helped clarify how this issue could be approached differently in a future year if the Community Council agrees, including starting earlier and using more structured evidence-gathering.

Renfrew Community Council will now move on to other local priorities, focusing on practical work that can deliver clear benefit for the town.