Council advised to ban flying lanterns

THE urban renewal board was poised yesterday to approve a ban on releasing sky lanterns and helium balloons on council-land to protect wildlife and reduce fire risk.

The proposals have been tabled in light of action in other areas where local authorities have imposed prohibitions.

A Halton Council urban renewal board report said a stray sky lantern is believed to have caused an inferno at a waste recycling site in the midlands that needed 200 firefighters and 39 appliances to tame it.

It said the candle-lit paper illuminations can also be a hazard to aircraft and boats as they can be sucked into engines or be mistaken at sea for marine distress flares, adding that the Maritime And Coastguard Agency has said unnecessary callouts for this reason peaked at 754 in 2010.

Animals can be hurt by the metal or bamboo frames also, the report said, with livestock having been injured by eating them.

Sky lanterns are also known as Chinese lanterns and are sometimes released in remembrance events.

There is some suggestion they might also be responsible for some unidentified flying object (UFO) sightings.

The report said helium balloons are a smaller risk but cause litter. For both types of object, airports need to be informed ahead of large-scale nearby releases.

Cheshire West And Chester Council has already introduced a ban on usage on its land, a move backed by Cheshire Fire And Rescue Service.

Halton safety officers have urged the borough’s councillors to follow suit.

The report said: “in the absence of any national legislation, it is considered that the best option open to the council to mitigate the risks associated with the use of sky lanterns and helium balloons is to adopt a policy prohibiting the release of both on council-owned land. GIFTING AVAILABLE ACROSS...