'Memorial meadows' and low-noise fireworks in the offing for Sunderland

The proposals were part of a motion from the Sunderland Conservatives presented to a full council meeting at City Hall on Wednesday, January 26.

This included identifying appropriate plots of land to be transformed into memorial meadows where residents could plant seeds/flowers in memory of loved ones.

The motion also urged the council to reduce the impact of noisy fireworks at events on council land by enforcing the use of low noise alternatives for all events, except in “exceptional circumstances”.

Conservative councillor Pam Mann added the motion was important due to the impact loud fireworks can have on domestic pets, adults and children with autism and residents with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Labour councillor Linda Williams, cabinet member for Vibrant City, moved an amendment to the motion which was later backed by all political groups.

The cabinet member said the council could use event planning guidance to ensure that events use low noise / silent fireworks as well as establishing memorial meadows at crematoria – but that consultation was needed with residents first.

Cllr Williams went on to say: “I’m going to request a Let’s Talk consultation, which will capture the residents’ views of wildflower meadows in crematoria and the use of low-noise or silent fireworks.

“We will also look to see how people do feel about noisy varieties of fireworks and where they might be considered suitable and how we could have a robust system if that’s what we do.

“[We’re] not making any decisions because we need to collect the information through consultation and come back to that debate.”

The agreed motion in full:

Council recognises the environmental damage and harm to both domestic and wild animals that can be done by balloons, paper lanterns and extremely loud fireworks.

In September 2018, Sunderland City Council therefore adopted a policy which banned the organised release of balloon and sky lanterns from council land and at events supported, financially or otherwise, by Sunderland City Council including those not on council-owned land.

In order to revisit this priority, council resolves to:

:: Use our comms team to remind residents that organised balloon and lantern releases are banned.

:: Request a report to cabinet on appropriate plots of council land that can be transformed into memorial meadows. Residents could then plant seeds/ flowers in memory of loved ones.

:: Use the event application process to require event organisers to use silent/quiet fireworks.

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