Gwynedd Council’s aim to limit the negative impacts of fireworks will likely have to wait until the respective governments tighten existing laws.

Last December, Gwynedd councillors overwhelmingly backed a motion calling for legislation to introduce a lower maximum noise level for fireworks sold to the public.

The motion also called for stricter regulations on when they can be let off, and prompted a report looking at what action the authority could take locally.

But Thursday’s Communities Scrutiny Committee meeting heard council officers could only recommend best practice when it comes to holding public displays, with the likelihood that UK Government would have to change the law before councillors could implement measures they want.

The motion, proposed by Cllr Paul Rowlinson, who is standing in the 2021 Senedd election for Plaid Cymru in Delyn, sought to force all public firework displays to advertise in advance, allowing residents to take precautions for animals and vulnerable people.

It also called on Welsh Government to use its powers to mitigate adverse impact on animals, and on UK Government to introduce a maximum noise level of 90dB for fireworks sold for private exhibitions.

Officers agreed this could be widely encouraged as “best practice,” it was noted they had no powers to enforce this, nor compel retailers to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks than the legally permitted 120dB.

Cllr Steve Churchman, who is standing for the Liberal Democrats in Dwyfor Meirionnydd, said current law doesn’t go far enough and asked if conditions could be placed on suppliers via the authority’s licensing measures.

“One of the big issues we have here is the impact on farm animals,” he said.

“At that time of year a lot of animals are kept inside but the noise upsets them and I’m aware of farmers experiencing damage to their property by cattle getting into a panic.

“If we can’t restrict sound levels beyond what the law says, what we can do is warn these things can disturb not only domestic pets but wildlife and farming stock.”

Cllr Mike Stevens said: “I’m not quite sure about all of this, it’s all part of the intolerant society in which we live.

“We have fireworks for a few weeks a year and people seem to jump up and down and getting all upset, it’s the same as low-flying aircraft or noisy cars.

“Fireworks being a lot of joy and excitement and fun, we were all kids and had bangers, nowadays it seems domestic pets are so pampered they can’t stand anything.

“We had a dog in a kitchen with the radio on and never battered an eyelid when fireworks were going off.

“I do think there’s a tiny bit intolerance now where we can’t have bangers and flashes, for heaven’s sake, we’re creating work for hard pressed council officers when they have enough on their plates.”