Chinese sky lanterns banned in more parts of Nottinghamshire

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Chinese sky lanterns have been banned in further areas of Newark and Sherwood
By Kit Sandeman, Local Democracy Reporter

People who release Chinese sky lanterns on council-owned land in Newark and Sherwood such as parks will be banned from using the land again.

The decorative lanterns, which are usually made from paper with a metal or bamboo frame, rise slowly into the sky.

However concerns have been raised by farmers and the RSPCA about the environmental impact of them.

It is feared several livestock animals have died as a result of eating parts of the lanterns and a major fire in the West Midlands was potentially caused by one.

Now Newark and Sherwood District Council has said it plans to extinguish the lanterns altogether.

After being approved unanimously by councillors, use of the lanterns will be banned from the council’s parks.

A spokesman said: “The ban is not enforceable by law and will be a condition of use of our parks.

“If someone hires the land or holds a stall in one of our parks they will be told not to release or sell balloons or sky lanterns.

“If they do, they will not be allowed to use the land again.”

It is understood that the council’s decision was not a result of one specific incident but a response to broader environmental concerns.

This comes after the use and sale of sky lanterns was banned on all land owned or controlled by Nottinghamshire County Council, including venues such as Rufford Country Park and the National Watersports Centre, in November 2017.

Speaking at the time of the ban, council leader Kay Cutts said: “The use of sky lanterns is becoming increasingly popular at events such as weddings and festivals.

“These lanterns are potentially incredibly dangerous; they are a fire hazard and the litter they leave behind is a danger to livestock.

“I have received a lot of correspondence from people in Nottinghamshire calling on the council to have a formal policy banning their use on council premises.

“The Fire and Rescue Service, RSPCA, Soil Association and the National Farmers Union all the support a ban on sky lanterns and I want to ensure the county council is playing its part.”

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