Bid to ban Chinese lanterns (From Craven Herald)

Bid to ban Chinese lanterns

9:48am Thursday 20th May 2010 in

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As the wedding season gets into full swing in Craven, rural champion the Country Land and Business Association has renewed its call to have Chinese lanterns either banned or made with biodegradable supports.

The wire-framed lanterns, which lift into the air with a lighted candle inside them, have become a popular addition to wedding festivities, but the CLA says people need to understand the threat they pose to Dales livestock and to standing crops.

The problem is that the paper lanterns burn out, leaving the frames to fall to earth. Sales of lanterns are reported to have reached 100,000 last year and the CLA says this represents an immense potential for damage.

“At this time of year we are approaching silage and hay- making time. If the wire frames from these lanterns get into livestock feed it would pose a threat to animals and could cause them serious injury or death,” said CLA regional director Dorothy Fairburn.

Miss Fairburn also said the fire risk to crops of corn and to hay and straw barns was also worrying.

“Chinese lanterns may be romantic and look very pretty, but people who propose to celebrate their marriage by sending them into the sky should understand the potential fire and animal health threat.

“We think this is a genuine health and safety issue.

“Biodegradable frames have been suggested, but whatever manufacturers do they cannot eliminate the fire risk and that, in itself, surely poses sufficient threat to justify a ban.”