But other campaigners say a ban is not needed, including Alan Friggieri, from the charity Combat Stress, which supports veterans with PTSD.
Giving evidence to MPs on the Commons’ Business Committee, Friggieri said calls to their helpline jump at this time of year because loud bangs can trigger PTSD symptoms.
“Nothing quite sounds like an AK47 other than fireworks going off – it’s that crackle,” one veteran who had been shot multiple times had told him.
Friggieri said veterans need to be able to plan around key dates, but he said he was not calling for a ban, because his organisation understands the cultural importance of firework displays.
Calling for better enforcement of existing rules by police to stop antisocial behaviour, BFA vice chairman Hubble warned a ban in Ireland had seen a flourishing black market in firework sales.
“There is a real risk here that if we make fireworks quieter that there is still a demand then we could create an illegal market where fireworks are coming in through internet sales and white van sales,” he told BBC Breakfast.
“At the moment we have a really well-regulated market where we have enforcers that know the products and can test them but as soon as these products go undercover then we lose that.
“We could actually create a louder and noisier environment because those are the sorts of fireworks that we’re seeing coming in through illegal sales on the internet.”
Asked whether it was true that displays were getting noisier, Hubble said: “No, no, it’s a lot quieter than it used to be – we used to have bangers and air bombs and and screamer rockets that used to be on sale and they were withdrawn from sale.”
The government is considering reducing the maximum noise limit from the current 120dB, equivalent toa thunderclap, to 110dB, which is equivalent to a car horn.
Hubble said a BFA assessment of firework sales shows a 50% noise reduction to 110 dB would impact up to 60% of firework sales to the general public.
Lowering levels to 90DB, equivalent to a lawnmower, as some campaigners want, would affect about 95% of fireworks.
“That’s effectively a ban on consumer fireworks, not a modest reduction in noise,” he said.
RSPCA advice for people with nervous pets:
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Stay calm and show your pet that all is well
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Put on music or the TV to help mask firework sounds
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Close any windows and do what you can to block out both the noise and the flashes
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Keep your environment secure: make sure your pet can’t escape if there’s a sudden noise
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For dogs: let them pace around, if they’re whining, barking or hiding, let them
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Play with a toy if your pet wants to join in, but don’t force them to play
Combat Stress advice for people with PTSD:
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Use noise cancelling headphones to reduce the sound of explosions and blackout blinds to block out flashes of light
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Use scented candles, diffusers or plug ins to make your home smell good and nothing like those you remember from deployments
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Remind yourself you are safe, and focus on the present using breathing and grounding techniques, or with exercise
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Ask friends and family to be with you on key dates like Bonfire Night
