As Bonfire Night approaches, Edinburgh finds itself at the center of a debate over the effectiveness and fairness of its newly expanded firework control zones. Despite the city’s bid to curb annual outbreaks of violence and chaos, questions linger about whether these zones truly protect the most troubled neighborhoods—or simply shift the problem elsewhere.
It’s a familiar scene for many in Niddrie, a district that has become synonymous with Bonfire Night unrest. Two years ago, Hay Avenue erupted into violence when fireworks and petrol bombs were hurled at riot police. Last year, despite the introduction of firework control zones (FCZs), officers faced a barrage of bricks and explosives, and a female police officer was injured after her vehicle’s window was shattered. According to BBC News, the new restrictions—touted as a solution—have left some of the most volatile streets only partially covered, with the dividing line running straight down the middle of Hay Avenue itself.
For residents like Liz Jack, who has lived in Niddrie since 2016, the firework season is nothing short of “absolutely terrifying.” Recalling last year’s events, she said, “They were firing rockets up and down the street and they were hitting off the window. I was petrified with all the noise that was going on.” The atmosphere was so tense that Ms Jack opted to stay in a hotel to escape the mayhem, a move she described as both costly and disruptive. “I sort of resent it [staying in a hotel], it’s a lot of money to do that for one night. It upsets my routine. I have a breathing machine I have to use at night, so that has to be packed up and taken with me.”
Yet, even after enduring such disruption, Ms Jack was told by neighbors that the trouble last year was less severe than in 2023. Still, she remains skeptical about the effectiveness of the partial ban. “To me a permanent ban would be better than just the 10 days,” she said. “They’ll just go somewhere else and start it—they’re determined to cause chaos.”
Edinburgh’s firework control zones were first introduced in 2023, making it the first Scottish council to adopt such measures. This year, the restrictions will run from October 31 to November 9, covering Niddrie, Balerno, Calton Hill, Seafield, and—new for 2025—Corstorphine, Moredun, Gracemount, Longstone, and Sighthill. During this period, it is a criminal offence to set off or throw fireworks in these areas unless it’s part of an organized, licensed event. The hope is that these measures will prevent the kind of disorder that has marred previous Bonfire Nights.
But the implementation has not been without controversy. As BBC Scotland reported, several roads—Hay Avenue in Niddrie, Captain’s Road in Gracemount, and Calder Road in Sighthill—are split in half by the restrictions, with only one side covered. This oddity has left some residents and legal experts questioning the logic behind the boundaries.
Nikita Hunter, a resident of Gracemount, voiced her doubts about the control zones’ impact. “It’s not going to work. Nothing is going to work, they’re going to do it anyway. If the police can’t do anything about it then who can?” she asked. Last year’s trouble, she said, was so intense that it stopped people from coming and going in the area, and even her dog was left frightened by the explosions.
Jane Meagher, the leader of City of Edinburgh Council, has acknowledged the arbitrary nature of the firework control zones. “The control zones are in a sense arbitrary. But I am confident the exact arrangements that we had last year will bring about the same consequences this year, which is a safer experience for everybody,” she told BBC Scotland. Meagher also emphasized the council’s willingness to adapt: “This year if we find there are problems in relation to the zones then we definitely would consider changing them.”
Some of the most serious disorder last year occurred on Calder Road in Sighthill. While Meagher noted that fireworks were not the main cause of unrest there, a recent court case revealed that a local petrol station was targeted with fireworks, and rockets were set off near a petrol tanker. The nearby Sighthill Fire Station was also put on lockdown, leaving crews unable to leave or return. Despite these incidents, neither the petrol station nor the fire station is included in this year’s Sighthill control zone.
Dr. Nick McKerrell, a senior lecturer in law at Glasgow Caledonian University, weighed in on the zones’ potential. “In theory it’s a good idea to localise laws as much as possible because communities can get involved. The difficulty is the detail,” he said. McKerrell pointed out that when a law draws a line between what is legal on one side of a street and illegal on the other, it must be “very specific on the reasons for the limitations. That’s why this is a big test.”
It’s not just Edinburgh grappling with these challenges. Glasgow will also introduce its own firework control zones this year, following a failed attempt in 2024. The areas of Govanhill, Pollokshields, and Broomhouse will be subject to restrictions from November 1 to 10, mirroring Edinburgh’s approach. The hope among city officials is that by targeting known trouble spots, they can prevent the kind of scenes that have alarmed residents and stretched emergency services in recent years.
Still, skepticism persists on the ground. Some residents, like Ms Jack and Ms Hunter, worry that partial bans simply push the problem into adjacent, unregulated areas. Others question whether the police have the resources or authority to enforce the bans effectively, especially when groups intent on causing trouble can simply cross the street to avoid prosecution.
For city leaders, the challenge is to balance the need for public safety with the realities of enforcement and community buy-in. Meagher has stood by the zones’ effectiveness in controlling the “worst of the disorder” in areas like Niddrie, but admits the system is not perfect. The willingness to reconsider and potentially redraw boundaries if problems arise this year may offer some reassurance to residents who feel left out by the current patchwork approach.
As Bonfire Night draws near, all eyes will be on Edinburgh and Glasgow to see whether these firework control zones can deliver on their promise of safer streets—or whether they’ll simply ignite new debates about fairness, effectiveness, and the true cost of keeping tradition in check.
