By Graeme Strachan

POLITICIANS last night expressed concern and disappointment after a Dundee supermarket launched an “irresponsible” cut-price fireworks promotion.

MSP Shona Robison and Councillor Joe FitzPatrick hit out at Lidl’s price blitz, which they believe could lead to more fireworks falling into the wrong hands.

They think the promotion will encourage people to buy more fireworks.

The glossy eight-page brochure— with a centre spread advertising fireworks on sale—is being handed out to shoppers and will be distributed to households across the city.

“Fireworks should be left to the professionals,” said Councillor Joe FitzPatrick.

“It’s reckless to promote cut-price fireworks that will inevitably end up in the hands of younger people who are completely irresponsible. There are too many scare stories. One accident is one too many.

“I would encourage Lidl not to sell fireworks, and I would urge people not to buy them from any shop.

“If people don’t buy fireworks the stores won’t stock them.”

Dundee East MSP Shona Robison, a long-term campaigner for measures restricting the misery inflicted by fireworks, also expressed concern and disappointment.

“I’m very disappointed at Lidl for running this advertising campaign,” she said.

“Given the public concerns about the use of fireworks and misuse of fireworks I’d hoped shops would take a more responsible attitude to the sale of fireworks rather than promoting the use of them.

“I’m concerned that offering half-price fireworks will lead to more being purchased and indeed being misused.”

Under a voluntary code drawn up by the local authority, retailers have not been stocking fireworks in a bid to prevent weeks of potentially dangerous and disturbing incidents in the run-up to November 5.

The voluntary code was introduced last year after a series of meetings involving councillors, officials, shopkeepers, the police, the fire brigade and the SSPCA.

It received widespread support including the backing of the Federation of Small Businesses and the Dundee and Tayside Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Among the terms of the code are agreements that fireworks would not be sold before October 16 or after November 12 and that sale would be refused to people under-18 or who might give them to under-18s.

The fireworks at Lidl go on sale from October 20.

Ms Robison said, “We are trying to promote limited and more responsible use of fireworks around certain times of the year and this (Lidl’s promotion) certainly seems to run counter to the spirit of that.”

Irene Leggate, who lives in the Balgay area—where residents’ lives are traditionally disrupted by the noise of fireworks in the lead-up to Guy Fawkes’ night—condemned the promotion.

“I was handed a leaflet when I was in Lidl at lunchtime,” she said last night.

“It’s irresponsible and dangerous. By selling them at half-price they are encouraging people to buy twice as many.”

A spokeswoman for Dundee City Council said, “Lidl are officially registered for selling fireworks.

“However, all premises selling and storing fireworks will be visited and checked as a matter of routine.”

Lidl had not responded to our inquiry at the time of going to press.