The USPCA has said it is “deeply concerned” at plans by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council to decision to hold a firework display in Lurgan Park this weekend.
The event is being staged to conclude a four-day holiday weekend of celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
And the Lurgan Park fireworks are to be staged to conclude an afternoon of activities which will include the showing of the ‘Party of the Palace’ on big screens.
According to the animal welfare charity, the Lurgan Park event – dubbed the Platinum Party in the Park – involves fireworks being set off from a floating platform on the lake and the surrounding areas.
USPCA Chief Executive Brendan Mullan told Armagh I : “Several members of the public have been in touch with the USPCA regarding this issue and join us in our concerns around the detrimental impact this poses to wildlife in the area, particularly at this time of year with the safety and wellbeing of nesting birds.
“Birds and their young are protected under the law as outlined in legislation including the Wildlife NI Order 1985 – ‘it is an offence to disturb any wild bird…while it is building a nest or is in, on, or near a nest containing eggs or young.’ The park is a natural habitat for wildlife and this event will negatively impact any wildlife in close proximity.
“It is our understanding that a license is required from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to hold such an event, given that it is a wild bird habitat – we would strongly urge that such a license is withheld.
“We also appeal to the council to reconsider its plans for this firework display.”
