READING Central MP Matt Rodda has urged caution among residents surrounding private fireworks displays.
It follows an incident on New Year’s Eve when a fireworks display led to the death of a pet.
A private display in Kensington Park, near Oxford Road, Reading, resulted in a fire in a nearby garden.
Animal hutches and a shed belonging to the owners of the garden were burned down, and while two guinea pigs and a rabbit were saved, one of their pets was killed.
Resident Guy Vickers-Jones has since set up a GoFundMe to replace the hutches and the shed for the pets to inhabit.
The fundraiser has seen more than £650 in donations– over 80% of its target.
Reading Central MP Matt Rodda has now urged residents to act with caution when celebrating.
“This is a complete tragedy, because the residents were looking after animals in the shed, and very unfortunately, an animal has died.
“The whole thing–the danger, the noise and disturbance, and the timing–was very regrettable.
“I’m asking people not to hold this kind of event again, and to think very carefully how they use fireworks.”
He urged residents to go to: “approved and safely-run fireworks displays, or to have smaller, suitable fireworks displays if they are to be held in their back garden.
“Of course that would need to be within the scale of what’s possible in the bits of space behind someone’s house, not out of proportion.
“There are normally lots of other events going on, and the important thing is to be safe around fireworks–Don’t put yourself or other people at risk, or their property and pets– it’s important to realize how powerful fireworks can be.”
More information about the fundraiser is available via: gofundme.com
