Angus bans release of balloons and sky lanterns

DANGER: Move is to reduce impact they can have on animals and the environment

Members of Angus Council’s Communities Committee have approved a ban on the intentional release of balloons and sky lanterns at events in the county.

The move is designed to reduce the environmental harm and potential threat to wildlife that their release poses but farmers in particular will be glad to see the lanterns banned.

The dangers posed by open flames on straw and on buildings has been of growing concern. Apart from the fire risk there have been cases of animals ingesting the spent wire frames.

It is believed more than 24 local authorities in the UK have now adopted such a policy and regional authorities in Australia, Canada, and the USA have also banned balloon releases.

Lantern releases are banned in Australia, Germany, Malta, Spain and Vietnam and it is also illegal to import or sell them in Austria.

Keep Scotland Beautiful, NFU Scotland, the RNLI, RSPB and the Marine Conservation Society have all called for and support such bans.

The intentional release of balloons and Chinese/sky lanterns has been an increasing trend in recent years and apart from the risk to farming, forestry and wildlife their appearance in the sky has apparently also prompted false call outs to the Coastguard.

Angus Communities Committee convener Donald Morrison said: “I fully understand the mass release of balloons or lanterns can create an impressive sight in the skies and it is often done to mark a key event or to give support to charity.

“But there is growing evidence about the harm they can cause to the environment and to wildlife once the balloons or lanterns come back down.

“That lasting threat far outweighs the temporary visual attraction of any release.”

It is understood that four councils now have the ban in place in Scotland.

NFUS animal health and welfare policy manager Penny Johnston said: “These seemingly innocent devices are beautiful to look at but can cause untold damage as we rarely know where they land. Across the UK, there have been numerous reports of harm to livestock, and in some instances death, when lanterns have landed in farmers’ fields, and cattle have ingested the metal wires.

“There is a further risk to cattle when grass is cut and ensiled for winter feed, and the wire is chopped up and subsequently contained in hay or silage.

“We welcome this move by Angus Council, however we would ask other local authorities to implement a ban on the release of sky lanterns.”

Picture: Getty Images. Chinese lanterns may be beautiful but their open flames pose a danger to straw and thatch. Animals can also sometimes ingest the spent wire frames.