Achi news desk-
North Lanarkshire Council’s Environment and Climate Change Committee voted on May 1 on proposals “to ban the release of sky lanterns and helium balloons from all council land and property and from council licensed events”.
Animal welfare groups, including Animal Concern, have been campaigning for restrictions on the release of lanterns and balloons for over eight years.
A spokesman for the charity, Graeme Corbett, said: “We are obviously delighted that North Lanarkshire has moved to protect animal welfare by passing restrictions on the release of sky lanterns and helium balloons. We are particularly pleased that councilors from all parties are quick to give their support, and we are grateful for it. They have shown that we can be a nation that loves animals and that this issue cuts across parties”.
“This is about raising awareness of the risks and dangers rather than punishing people. We believe that people release lanterns and balloons without thinking about what happens next when what is undoubtedly an attractive sight, disappears over the horizon. What goes up must come down and both are a real danger when they do that”.
“Slowly but surely,” he said, “we are approaching 32 of the 32 local authorities in Scotland to support Animal Concern’s campaign, just as Wales has struck a chord with the local authorities.”
Deputy Convener of the Environment and Climate Change Committee Councilor James McPhilemy (Scottish Labour, Cumbernauld South) said: “We are proud to support Animal Concern’s campaign. We share their view that releasing sky lanterns and helium balloons is a risk not worth taking to protect wildlife, household pets and farm animals.
“As councillors, we have a duty to do what we can to protect animal welfare as far as we can and to tackle avoidable fire hazards. These measures go some way towards achieving that.”
A diverse range of organizations including the Fire and Rescue Service, the National Farmers’ Union, Keep Scotland Beautiful, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Marine Conservation Society, and MPs and MSPs from all political parties, have joined animal welfare groups to campaign for the ban. .
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Mr Corbett urged the Scottish Government to follow this with a national ban. He said: “More and more local authorities are using the powers they have to do what they can. We are approaching the point where Holyrood and Westminster must recognize their responsibility. Local governments such as North Lanarkshire across the UK have shown leadership. It is time for parliamentarians to do the same.
“This should be a no-brainer for every party’s manifesto with a General Election a few months away.”
The hazards associated with sky lanterns and helium balloons are ingestion and, in the case of lanterns, a fire hazard. Animals, for example, sometimes try to eat ground lanterns or helium balloons. This poses a risk of becoming trapped in the esophagus causing death by suffocation. In March this year, a ewe was found dead after ingesting a balloon in Yorkshire.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “We understand the concerns raised in relation to the use of fire lanterns and the release of balloons and the impact they can have on our wildlife, livestock and the environment.
“While there are currently no plans for a national ban on helium balloons and sky lanterns, we are working closely with partners to focus on preventing all sources of litter and welcome the approach used by a number of local authorities in Scotland is acting to ban the release of balloons and sky lanterns on their land.”
