Council remind people of firework and lantern ban at Castle Hill

Kirklees Council is reminding people that using fireworks and Chinese lanterns on council land is against the law, this includes Huddersfield’s iconic landmark Castle Hill.
It is already illegal to set off fireworks on any highway, street, thoroughfare or public place. Now a new local bylaw has been brought into force that means it is also illegal to release Chinese lanterns on Castle Hill, or in any other council owned park.
Floating lanterns can be deadly for local wildlife, and livestock. There have been a number of instances where animals have had to be put down due to parts of a lantern’s metal frame being digested and tearing through their internal organs. Fireworks and lanterns can also damage buildings, and crops.
Last year the council collected 80 bin liners of fireworks and associated litter after bonfire night – despite asking people not to set off fireworks.
As it is a great vantage point over the surrounding area, visiting Castle Hill to watch firework displays taking place elsewhere, is currently permitted. However officers are concerned that people putting on their own shows on the hill are putting bystanders at risk.
If this continues to be a problem, in future, they may have no choice but to block vehicular access to the Hill during the period, in order to deter people from breaking the law.