Hazards posed by chinese lanterns

The Women’s Food & Farming Union has received overwhelming support from farmers and members of the public in providing evidence of fires, livestock deaths and litter hazards caused by Chinese lanterns.

Now the WFU has further evidence from military experts that these lanterns can pose a major risk to aircraft. The WFU is heightening its campaign to place a ban on Chinese lanterns across the whole of the UK.

The Daily Telegraph has printed a letter from the WFU’s Acting President, Helen Bower, alongside a letter from Captain Craig Walker of Trinity House, Helicopter Unit, St Mawgan, Cornwall. In his letter, Captain Walker outlined the supreme danger posed by these lanterns to aircraft and helicopters in particular. He stated that Chinese lanterns, "Cause untold damage if ingested into a gas turbine or if they strike the blades of a helicopter."

Captain Walker’s statement highlights a major hazard to helicopter pilots, including those in the military and pilots such as Prince William. Given this new data, the WFU is further pressing the government to rethink its stance on these lanterns and consider whether or not the new coalition government is prepared to risk the lives of domestic and military helicopter pilots.

Helen Bower, Acting President of the WFU stated, "Chinese lanterns only give short lived pleasure but their long-term damage can be fatal and costly. We have collected a mountain of evidence of the problems that have been occurring in the countryside along with the devastation our members and other farmers have suffered from the loss of cattle and horses. Any incidents which have occurred regardless of when, through Chinese lanterns should be reported immediately to this number, so that a complete dossier can be prepared. I truly hope the Government will take steps to ban these lethal lanterns and it is up to us to make sure we record all the incidents."

At Prime Minister’s Question Time last week, Nick Clegg said the Government did not intend to ban the lanterns, but would seek to allow "biodegradable" lanterns. There is however, no current criterion for ’biodegradable’ lanterns. The WFU continues to urge the government for action and have been joined in their campaign to ban Chinese lanterns by a number of high-profile individuals.