SKY LANTERNS are set to be banned from being released on council owned land and schools across the Vale.

Councillors made the banning order, which also applies to third parties holding events on council land, during a cabinet meeting earlier this afternoon (January 26).

It comes after warnings from the fire service, animal rescue charities and coastal rescue services about the dangers of sky lanterns being released.

A report before cabinet members said they posed a “significant fire hazard”, as they could ignite and become a risk to crops, woodland and property when they crashed to the ground.

It also raised concerns about risks to animal welfare, where its metal frame could become a danger to pets, wild animals and livestock; a risk to aviation of being sucked into engines while airborne; and a risk of red sky lanterns causing false alarms to coastal rescue services like the RNLI.

During the cabinet meeting on Monday councillor Neil Moore, the leader of the Vale council, said the authority thought it was appropriate due to the risk of injury to those that used them, the close proximity of Cardiff Airport, and people thinking they were distress signals from the sea.

A report before cabinet said that the government had chosen not to prohibit the release of sky lanterns, but that Trading Standards had issued an industry code of practice about their use.

It added that several local authorities in Wales, including Conwy, Caerphilly and Pembroke, already had bans in place prohibiting the use of sky lanterns being released on their land, while retailers including Tesco and Poundland had stopped selling them as they were a “significant fire hazard”.

Cllr Moore, who represents the Cadoc ward in Barry, said that he had seen them be released from the beach and promenade gardens on Bonfire Night and because they went up a “considerable height” they could cause “significant issues to air safety”.

He added that the report showed they were a fire hazard and a threat to animal welfare, and that they also posed a risk to people setting them off.

He said: “As well as posing a significant fire hazard and being a form of litter, the lanterns pose a real danger to pets, wild animals and livestock that may ingest the remains after they fall to ground. It is for these reasons that I am very happy to announce that we have taken the decision to ban the use of sky lanterns on all Council land.”

Councillor Rob Curtis, the cabinet member for environment and visible services, said it was “excellent” that sky lanterns would be banned from council land.

He added: “I’m glad that we are part of the growing list of progressive authorities.
“It’s a small step but a significant one.”

He added that when he cleared beaches with Friends of Barry Beaches they often found sky lanterns.

Plaid Cymru councillor Ian Johnson, who had lobbied for the ban of 'Chinese' lanterns, said: “Although many people find the lanterns very pretty and a nice centre-piece to a celebration or commemoration, they can also cause great damage to wildlife, possibly killing them, litter the countryside wherever they land and potentially cause fires."

RSPCA Cymru’s Public Affairs Manager, Chris O’Brien, said: “This is great news for local wildlife, livestock and other animals.

“We're delighted to work closely with Vale of Glamorgan Council in the interests of animal welfare, and welcome that they have taken this important step, meaning almost a third of local authorities in Wales have acted against the use of sky lanterns.”

The Vale Council now joins Cardiff, Caerphilly, Carmarthenshire, Conwy, Neath Port Talbot and Pembrokeshire in introducing a ban.

The cost of introducing the ban will be found from existing council budgets.

The ban is not enforceable by law, but can be included in council policies and permission agreements for use of council land.