News / Environment
Calls to ban balloon releases in Bristol
Fresh calls have been made to introduce a city-wide ban on people releasing balloons or sky lanterns across Bristol.
It comes after Gloucester City Council agreed to ban the release of Chinese lanterns and balloons on council-owned parks last week, joining a list of more than 70 local authorities in the UK that have introduced similar policies.
Questions have now been asked as to why Bristol City Council is not on this list – despite discussions to introduce a ban taking place last year.
is needed now More than ever
Fi Hance
Former cabinet member for waste and the environment Fi Hance had been working to introduce a ban before she was removed from her post in November last year.
The Green councillor for Redland said: “When in the cabinet I started work some time ago on putting in a ban similar to Gloucester.
“The mayor did seem keen, but it seems that things have ground to a halt. It’s simple enough to do and there’s a lot of public support so I really can’t see what the problem is.”
Bristol City Council said although it is yet to adopt a city-wide ban, steps have been taken to try and stop releases from taking place.
A council spokesperson said: “Over the last year, we have adopted bylaws and policies which prohibit the release of lanterns in our parks and event spaces.
“Whilst we don’t currently have a city-wide ban in place, we are looking at plans to tackle the effect of single-use plastics and could consider measures like this as part of that.”
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has launched a campaign called ‘Don’t Let Go’, which aims to encourage local authorities and businesses to introduce a ban as balloons, string and sky lanterns leave a permanent hazard.
The MCS said: “If pieces of balloon were to be dropped directly on the ground you could be fined for littering, but because they are let go – not dropped – they are not classed as litter under current legislation, despite the fact that what goes up comes back down.”
North Somerset Council said it banned the release of balloons and sky lanterns on council land a few years ago following issues with cattle being in danger of being injured by eating them.
A spokesman for the council also said they are banned from beaches across the district due to the fact they are “equally hazardous to aquatic life”.
Main image from the Marine Conservation Society.
Kate Wilson is a local democracy reporter for Bristol.
Read more: Bristol balloon ban?
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
