A move to ban sky lanterns and balloons on land owned or managed by Cumberland Council has not been supported despite concerns that they present a risk of sparking wildfires when they land.
Members of the full council met at The Civic Centre in Carlisle on Tuesday. Councillor Jill Perry (Bothel and Wharrels, Green Party) and Councillor Helen Tucker (Cockermouth North, Green Party) proposed their motion.
They asked the council to note that a growing number of local authorities including Somerset West & Taunton, Shropshire, Melton, and South Ribble have introduced bans on the release of sky lanterns and/or balloons due to the risks posed to wildlife, livestock, property, farmland, and the wider environment.
When she was introducing their motion Cllr Perry observed that the council had not adopted the policy despite it was previously supported by the legacy councils which were replaced by the new unitary authority.
In her motion Cllr Perry said: “Balloons, including those marketed as biodegradable, can remain in the environment for up to four years, contributing to long-term litter and environmental contamination.
“National beach-clean monitoring has consistently identified an average of three balloons per 100 metres of coastline during surveys, illustrating the scale of the pollution issue.
“Wildlife, farm animals and marine species are at risk of injury, entanglement, starvation, or death through ingestion or entrapment in balloon debris, ribbons, and sky lantern components – including documented examples such as a juvenile green turtle found near Blackpool with balloon waste obstructing its digestive tract.
“Evidence provided to the Civil Aviation Authority has identified incidents involving sky lanterns and helium balloons interfering with aviation operations, including reported risks of ingestion into aircraft engines, obstruction to aircraft manoeuvring on the ground, and disruption or delay to take-off and landing.
“Sky lanterns pose serious fire risks, particularly in rural and agricultural areas, with documented incidents involving damage to crops, farm buildings, stored feed, and harm to livestock.”
However, when it was put to the vote 20 members were against the motion, with just nine in favour and two abstaining, and it fell.
It was supported by all of the Liberal Democrat councillors and, after the decision, Councillor Brian Wernham (Stanwix Urban, Lib Dems) said he was disappointed it had not received more support.
He said: “Farmers are very worried about these because they distribute metal debris onto grazing land which animals can eat and the brush fire risk is obvious.”
Cllr Wernham said that both the National Farmers Union (NFU) and the RSPCA both wanted to see the sky lanterns to be banned and he added: “I’m completely mystified as to why they voted down this motion which was a very sensible one.”
