Scottish families urge councils to expand firework control zones to protect autistic residents
Laura Miller, a mother in Kirkintilloch, has launched a petition urging East Dunbartonshire Council to implement firework control zones to protect her six-year-old autistic daughter, Grace, from severe sensory distress during the autumn. While Glasgow and Edinburgh have introduced such zones to curb anti-social behavior, East Dunbartonshire has not, citing limited misuse complaints. Miller argues that the constant noise from October to November causes significant harm to neurodivergent individuals, a concern shared by Jonathan Blythe, a 41-year-old man with Asperger's in Glasgow who experiences nightly panic. The council maintains that control zones are for disorder, not general noise, but Miller continues to advocate for regulatory changes under the 2022 Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill.