Red tape sparks decline of pop-up firework shops across West Yorkshire
Red tape and bureaucracy has helped reduce the number of “pop up” shops selling fireworks in West Yorkshire this year.
Among the measures taken this year to cut down on anti-social firework use was the introduction of new hoops for business wanting to sell fireworks to jump through.
A report to West Yorkshire Fire Authority said people wanting to sell fireworks in temporary shops during the Bonfire season now faced “extended application processing times” before they are granted a licence.
This meant that business would now have apply for a licence to sell fireworks by mid-September if they wanted to be up and running by Bonfire night.
Sellers would also faced enhanced police checks before being given a firework sale licence.
The measures have led to a 79 per cent reduction in businesses given licences to sell fireworks in 2025 compared to the previous year.
The report said this was backed up by tougher enforcement action. This Bonfire season West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service wrote to six licence holders to advise them that the service was “minded to revoke their licence due to either improper storage or new information to suggest they are no longer considered a fit and proper person.”
And raids on business led to 1,200 packs of fireworks with a retail value in excess of £50,000 being seized.
Despite many incorrectly thinking Councils licence firework shops, it is West Yorkshire Fire Service that the local licensing authority for such businesses.
Chris Kemp, fire safety manager, said: “As part of the fit and proper person check there is a three week check by the police. A few years ago we were still issuing licences the week before Bonfire Night.
“That encouraged short-term pop-up shops who get a load of fireworks in and sell them cheap for a few weeks before closing.
“We’d had a number of complaints about pop up shops and we wanted to look at how we could target those.”
The report to members revealed that in 2024 the fire service received 25 new applications for firework licences. 11 were refused or not progressed and 14 licences were issued.
This year the new measures meant that this past Bonfire season saw just nine new applications, with six refused or not progressed and only three licences issued.