A FIREWORKS Control Zone (FCZ) will be introduced around Edinburgh Zoo this year to minimise the negative impacts of noise on animals after the death of a baby red panda last year.
Nine FCZs will be introduced in Edinburgh this year around Bonfire Night, more than double compared to last year, which ban the use of fireworks in a specific areas.
The zones were first implemented in Edinburgh last year and and on Thursday, members of the culture and communities committee voted to reintroduce FCZs already in place for two years, in addition to five more areas.
The full list of Firework Control Zones in Edinburgh is:
- Balerno
- Calton Hill
- Corstorphine
- Moredun
- Niddrie
- Gracemount
- Longstone
- Seafield
- Sighthill
The zones will be in place between October 31 and November 9.
Amongst the reasons community groups stated in their applications for FCZs in March during a consultation process were the misuse of fireworks and the protection of animals and vulnerable people.
Last year, three-month-old baby red panda Roxie choked on her own vomit at Edinburgh Zoo as fireworks went off around the city on November 5.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), which owns Edinburgh Zoo, said vets blamed the cub’s death on her reaction to fireworks going off nearby.
Roxie’s mother Ginger died unexpectedly five days earlier, which zookeepers said may also have been linked to fireworks.
Culture and communities convener councillor Margaret Graham said: “We want everyone to be able to enjoy Bonfire Night safely and responsibly and these FCZs are part of our efforts to ensure that.
“The new FCZs being introduced are based on community requests and respond to real concerns around the safety of people and animals in these areas. This is in addition to the FCZs first introduced last year, which we found had a really positive effect.
“This is just one tool for minimising the negative impact of fireworks at this time of year, and we’ll continue to work closely with partners to look at different ways of addressing the issue.”
It is intended that FCZs will align with any dispersal zones planned by Police Scotland around Bonfire Night.
