Horse rescue centre in South Warwickshire wins parliamentary debate on fireworks
The charity that runs a horse rescue centre in South Warwickshire has won a parliamentary debate on fireworks after mounting a large petition.
The debate will take place in the new year as a result of the petition run by the charity Redwings.
The UK’s largest horse welfare charity it runs the horse rescue centre at Oxhill, south Warwickshire.
The petition, which asks government to reduce the maximum noise level of consumer fireworks from 120 to 90 decibels, has so far been signed by 178,452 people including celebrities and influencers, among them broadcaster and writer Sir Stephen Fry.
More than 1,000 have signed the petition so far.
To view the petition online visit https://tinyurl.com/bds2h3rv
The petition hit the 100,000-signature threshold to be considered for a Parliamentary debate just before Bonfire Night last November.
The date for the debate has been set for Monday, January 19 at 4.30pm at Westminster Hall, London.
Redwings is now asking people to contact their MP to get them to attend.
Helen Whitelegg, Campaigns and Policy Manager at Redwings, said: “We’ve been waiting for this announcement for some weeks and are delighted that the debate will come soon after New Year’s Eve, another date strongly associated with fireworks.
“We have a letter to MPs available to customise on our website, just click the Write to Your MP button, and all the details people need to send this to their local representative are available here.
“Ninety-five MPs from England, Scotland, Wales and across the political spectrum came to a drop-in event at Westminster to talk about the effects of fireworks on animals and people in November and we hope they will be motivated to attend on this date.
“As with all Parliamentary debates, a relevant Government minister will be there to listen and respond, making this a vital opportunity to canvas the people responsible for fireworks regulations and ensure they understand the strength of feeling on this issue across the UK.”
Redwings has lost three of its own rescued residents – Percy, Sprite and Cinders - because of fireworks being set off near their sanctuary sites in the past.
The charity has hundreds of horses, ponies, donkeys and mules, many of whom have previously endured cruelty or neglect, living at visitor centres including Oxhill.