A Southampton resident has begun circulating a petition to stop fireworks displays at Southampton Princess.

Arnold Cann, who recently watched hot ash from fireworks at the hotel fall into his yard at Sunnyside Park Drive, told The Royal Gazette the hotel was the wrong place for such events.

Residents, including Mr. Cann, complained their roofs, cars, and yards were littered with spent fireworks from the hotel.

They also lodged complaints with Police and Public Safety Minister Quinton Edness, expressing fear that the fireworks debris could pose a risk to their health, particularly if it fell into their water tanks.

And Mr. Cann has suggested the hotel -- which he had not heard from despite leaving messages -- move the displays to the old Naval Annex at Southampton.

In a letter dated October 10, 1996, to Mr. Edness, Mr. Cann stated that he had been very patient with the hotel on the fireworks issue.

"I have been very concerned about our health and that of all others within my vicinity,'' he wrote.

"Since 1992 I have complained to the Southampton Princess Hotel about the effects from their display of fireworks, but have not received a response.

"I have been very patient about the matter, but it happened again on the evening of October 8, 1996... My wife and I were sitting outside, in the dark, looking at the display of fireworks when we suddenly noticed a red object floating down into our yard and we realised that it was hot ash from the fireworks. We also noticed that the smoke from these fireworks had saturated our home and we had to turn on the fans to clear the house of smoke.

"The fireworks have a beautiful display, but the effects from the fall-out are not pleasant to smell, neither is it good for our health. It will collect on our roofs and will be washed into our tanks by the rain.

"I would appreciate, in the future, that such a display can be carried out on an island (the old Navy Base at King's Point would be an excellent place) where the enjoyment can be witnessed by many, and the fall out will be of no threat to us and our homes.'' Mr. Cann said he planned to circulate a petition -- which will be presented to Mr. Edness -- as far as the Lighthouse Hill area.

Mr. Edness said he did not need a petition to take the residents' concerns seriously.

"I believe it is an inconvenience,'' he said. "And obviously it is a danger in their minds.

"The thing I need to do is talk with the hotel and find out what can be done.'' But Mr. Edness said he doubted that moving the fireworks displays to Morgan's Point would be practical for the hotel.

"It will mean marshalling all the guests out there and back,'' he pointed out.

"It is a difficult situation. The hotel usually puts the display after a convention group is wrapping up their convention. And this conflicts with residents who fear that their roofs are being dirtied, and ashes from fireworks are falling in their yards and getting into their tanks.

"Everybody wants us to entertain our guests. But we just have to look at the situation and come up with a resolution which will be good for the guests and the residents.'' Southampton Princess general manager Manfred Timmel told The Royal Gazette he understood the fireworks were "a nuisance to the neighbours'' but said the hotel had to cater to visitors.

"Southampton Princess is catering to the largest convention business on the Island,'' Mr. Timmel said. "It (the firework display) is part of making the programme successful.'' He noted the fireworks became a problem last week because of the direction of the wind.

"Normally it is not a problem,'' he said.