FIFE COUNCIL could be set to ban Chinese lanterns and balloons if a motion put forward to councillors is approved.

Councillors will be asked at full council today to ban all intentional balloon or lantern releases on council-owned land and property.

The lantern and balloon releases would also be prohibited at any events endorsed or supported by the council.

The move comes after a motion by Howe of Fife and Tay Coast councillor Andy Heer who hopes to raise awareness of the consequences of balloon and Chinese/Sky lantern releases.

The motion says that the amount of releases has increased in recent years and, on returning back to earth, the objects can pose hazards to wildlife and livestock causing injury and death by entanglement, choking or burning.

The lanterns can also cause injury to humans, damage buildings and cause false callouts to the coastguard.

Keep Scotland Tidy, the National Farmers Union Scotland, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, The Maritime Coastguard Agency, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Marine Conservation Society all support and call for bans. 

Three local authorities in the UK have introduced policies on the usage of the flying objects and it is possible that Fife Council will follow.

Dunfermline North councillor Ian Ferguson will join the discussion at today’s meeting and told the Press: “I haven’t had any personal experience but I have read about it. I saw a release when I went to a wedding on a Greek island and while it was beautiful, I remember thinking afterwards that they were going to land in the Mediterranean Sea somewhere.

“I would bow to the knowledge of the farmers and others in that, while it is a nice thing and makes you feel good, if it causes a problem somewhere else then maybe we should stop it.

“We didn’t have them 10 years ago. I am not particularly agitated about it but I understand why people are getting bothered about it.”

Dunfermline Central councillor Bob Young said he had not heard about any issues about the lanterns. “I look forward to hearing what is going to be said,” he added. “I know Chinese lanterns have caused problems in other areas.”