West Dunbartonshire votes to ban sky lanterns

Chinese lanterns have been banned in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, after the local council voted unanimously in favour.

The move is in response to an NFU Scotland campaign aimed at scrapping the lanterns as an alternative to fireworks or balloons.

NFU Scotland wrote to 24 local authorities last October, including West Dunbartonshire last year urging them to join the other councils who have already prohibited their use.

The lanterns are made from paper and have a wire or wooden frame which contains a candle that is lit.

According to NFU Scotland and many farmers across the UK, they are a proven fire risk and can be a danger to animals.

They pose a fire hazard to standing crops, stacks of hay and straw, woodland and farm buildings.

'Make the countryside a safer place'

NFU Scotland President Andrew McCornick said councils who have yet to take action need to move forward to make the countryside a "safer place for animals and people."

He said: “Sky lanterns are seemingly innocent devices, and are beautiful to look at, but they can cause untold damage as there is no control over where these burning structures of paper, metal and wood decide to land.

“Across the UK, there have been many reports now of fires started by lanterns and harm to the health of livestock when lanterns have landed in farmers’ fields and been eaten. There is a further risk to stock when grass is cut and ensiled for winter feed, and the wire is chopped up and subsequently contained in hay or silage.

“We applaud the action already taken against sky lanterns by seven Scottish local authorities and we urge other councils to take their responsibilities as seriously. We also ask members of the public to avoid the use of lanterns and to understand the risks that these can pose.”