News / Environment
Sky Lanterns prohibited in Bristol parks
Releasing sky lanterns from Bristol parks could result in a criminal record.
This is the message from the city council’s parks team, who have said that releasing the lanterns is a breach of the council’s park by-laws.
Gloucester City Council agreed to ban the release of Chinese lanterns and balloons on council-owned parks in June this year.
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It led to fresh calls to introduce a city-wide ban on people releasing balloons or sky lanterns across Bristol.
The 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.
Bristol City Council had said although it is yet to adopt a city-wide ban, steps have been taken by the authority to try and stop releases from taking place.
This included adopting by-laws and policies which prohibit the release of lanterns in city parks and event spaces.
The authority has also encouraged people to consider the impact on the environment and wildlife should they land on green spaces elsewhere.
Carla Denyer says there is still more to be done.
Green councillor Carla Denyer said it was great to see the council taking action on this issue.
“After lobbying for action on this for some time, it’s great to see the council make an unequivocal statement that sky lantern releases in our parks will not be permitted, because of the impact they have on the environment and wildlife,” she said.
“Given that it does not require any new powers, it’s surprising that it’s taken so long to get this far.
“It’s still not a full ban, and doesn’t address mass balloon releases, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction.”
Denyer also praised the work of Hance for starting work on a ban before her removal from the cabinet and the Marine Conservation Society volunteers – especially Kay Snowdon – who have been pushing for this change for over a year.
She added: “What we need to see now is a similar commitment regarding mass balloon releases, as balloons also pollute the environment and harm animals on land and at sea.”
According to the Marine Conservation Society, balloons, balloon string and sky lanterns leave a permanent hazard.
The society 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.”
Kate Wilson is a local democracy reporter for Bristol.
Read more: Calls to ban balloon releases in Bristol
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