A BAN on the mass release of balloons and lanterns on Renfrewshire Council property and at council-backed events could soon be implemented in a bid to protect the local environment.

Johnstone councillors Jacqueline Cameron and Andy Steel have put forward a motion for Thursday’s full council meeting which calls on the council to prohibit people releasing the damaging items at any events it supports or licences as well as on land and property it owns.

Cllr Cameron said she was keen to pitch the idea after the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) insisted the release of balloons and sky lanterns posed a major fire risk to farm buildings and a threat to livestock.

Several local authorities across the country have already issued a ban.

The motion states: “Council agrees that release of balloons or lanterns clearly pose a risk to wildlife, livestock, humans and property. Twenty out of the 32 local authorities in Scotland have introduced a policy banning their release.

“Therefore, council agrees that Renfrewshire Council should join the other local authorities in implementing a policy banning the release of balloons or lanterns on council property, council-owned land and at council-licensed, endorsed or supported events, including those not on council-owned land.”

The Johnstone South and Elderslie representative said she was woken up to how damaging lanterns can be following a fire at a German zoo, when a New Year’s Eve release led to a major blaze at a primate enclosure and killed 30 monkeys.

The Gazette: Cllr Cameron is among those calling for a ban Cllr Cameron is among those calling for a ban

She said she will, however, amend the wording of her motion slightly, as it is not intended for the ban to apply to people using balloons for parties at council housing.

Cllr Cameron said: “This issue actually came up on the Team Up to Clean Up Facebook page with people pointing out other local authorities had banned balloons and lanterns and we hadn’t.

“The NFU also put out a call to ban them because cows eat the balloons and lanterns can set barns on fire.

“When I saw lanterns had caused a zoo fire in Germany as well, that prompted me to get this motion in.

“I will have to amend the wording slightly as we are talking about the mass release of balloons and don’t want to ban people at council homes from having a couple at a birthday party.

“I will be suggesting some alternatives people can do at the meeting as well.

“We are looking a lot at climate change and we are really concious about the environment. We are taking it seriously and we are trying to do as much as we can to make a difference.”

Renfrewshire Council will meet at 9.30am on Thursday and, if the motion receives the backing of a majority of members, a ban will be implemented.

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