Neighbours of a fireworks factory destroyed by a massive blaze which killed two firefighters are opposing plans from the firm to start selling fireworks again. Twelve other people were injured following the explosion which ripped through Festival Fireworks UK at Shortgate near Lewes, in December 2006. Now just nine months on from the fatal incident, which we reported in the January 2007 Monthly Bulletin, owner Martin Winter has unveiled plans to sell fireworks at the site again. He has lodged a planning application for a temporary change of use for part of a workshop to become retail space, allowing the sale of fireworks. An application to build temporary offices, a workshop, office and staff facilities, a storage building and a steel storage container has already been submitted.
An inquest into the deaths of the men has been opened and adjourned as an investigation is carried out by the police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). An HSE prohibition order is still in place banning Mr Winter from selling or storing fireworks, but this could be lifted. The site was originally licensed to store more than 20 tonnes of imported fireworks, to prepare fuses and build displays. However last year a 200-metre cordon was placed around the site following the explosion, which was so big it could be heard up to 12 miles away. In 1999 the firm under their former name Sussex Fireworks and Displays Ltd, were fined £1,000 for storing explosives without a licence.
Planners at Lewes District Council were expected to make a decision on the controversial application by the end of September.
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