Sky lanterns now banned by 17 local authorities

Seventeen of Scotland’s local authorities have now banned the release of sky lanterns and balloons from their land.

West Dunbartonshire became the latest council to make the move following correspondence from the National Farmers Union of Scotland.

It joins Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, Dundee, Angus, Fife, The Highland Council, Perth and Kinross, Stirling, East and West Lothian, The City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, Inverclyde, Shetland, Orkney and Argyll and Bute Council in preventing the release of the items capable of causing “untold damage” to farmland and animals.

Responding to the news, NFUS vicepresident Martin Kennedy hailed it a “positive step”.

“NFU Scotland has stepped up its lobbying on the issue of sky lanterns in recent months,” said Mr Kennedy.

“Although sky lanterns are seemingly innocent devices, and are beautiful to look at, they can cause untold damage as there is no control over where these burning structures of paper, metal and wood decide to land.”

Across the UK, there have been many reports now of fires started by lanterns and harm to the health of livestock when lanterns have landed in farmers’ fields and been eaten.

Mr Kennedy added: “There is a further risk to stock when grass is cut and ensiled for winter feed, and the wire is chopped up and subsequently contained in hay or silage.”

At the end of October, NFUS penned a letter to each of Scotland’s local authorities that did not already have a ban in place.

“There is still a lot of work to do, as a further 15 have yet to take any action,” said Mr Kennedy.

“We ask the public, particularly as wedding season approaches, to consider an alternative method of celebration and avoid the use of sky lanterns and helium balloons.”