Animal charity raises concerns about Lurgan Park fireworks display

An animal welfare charity has said it is “deeply concerned” by a local authority’s decision to hold a fireworks display in a Co Armagh park this weekend.

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council has defended the event, arguing that it has taken all the necessary steps to “appraise the potential impacts” from the fireworks display on wildlife in the area.

The display at Lurgan Park in Craigavon forms part of the events planned by the council for the Platinum Jubilee this June bank holiday weekend.

People have been invited to bring a picnic to Lurgan Park and to watch the Platinum Party at the Palace live on a 40-metre LED screen from 6.30pm this Saturday June 4, which will be “followed by a dazzling fireworks display”.

USPCA chief executive Brendan Mullan warned in a statement that the charity has reservations about the plans, and has urged the council to reconsider its decision to hold a fireworks display in the park during bird nesting season.

He said: “The USPCA is deeply concerned by the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council’s decision to hold a fireworks display at its event taking place in Lurgan Park this coming weekend.

“The event involves fireworks being set off from a floating platform on the lake and the surrounding areas.

“Several members of the public have been in touch with the USPCA regarding this issue and join us in our concerns around the detrimental impact this poses to wildlife in the area, particularly at this time of year with the safety and wellbeing of nesting birds.

“Birds and their young are protected under law as outlined in legislation including the Wildlife NI Order 1985 – ‘it is an offence to disturb any wild bird… while it is building a nest or is in, on, or near a nest containing eggs or young’.”

Mr Mullan said that the park is a natural habitat for wildlife, and that this event will negatively impact on any wildlife in close proximity to the display.

“It is our understanding that a licence is required from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to hold such an event, given that it is a wild bird habitat – we would strongly urge that such a licence is withheld.

“We also appeal to the council to reconsider its plans for this fireworks display.”

In a statement to the PA news agency, a spokesperson for the council said: “The council notes the concerns, however it has taken into consideration all the issues raised.

“NIEA has been informed with regard to the proposed fireworks display, and the council commissioned two separate independent ecologists to appraise the potential impacts from the proposed fireworks display at Lurgan Park.

“The result of the appraisals were, taking into consideration that the birds are nesting in an area already well-used by the public, which would suggest they are more resilient to disturbance; the mitigations proposed by the council and the short duration of the display, there should be no negative impact or significant disturbance caused to the local bird population in Lurgan Park.

“The council has fulfilled its requirements in making an application for a Fireworks Display Licence from the Department of Justice.

“An Environmental Impact Assessment was not required to be carried out.”