Concern over use of Chinese lanterns which 'pose threat to livestock and crops'
THERE has been a call for tighter controls over the use of Chinese lanterns during the Bank Holiday weekend.
Experts at the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) say the wire-framed lanterns – which lift into the air by a lighted candle inside – pose a threat to livestock and crops.
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The association says the wire frames falling to earth get into livestock feed, causing serious injury or, in some cases, death.
The release of Chinese lanterns has become a popular pastime at celebrations and events.
And as reported in the Echo, they have even been mistaken for UFOs.
Dozens of readers contacted the Echo in June last year to say they had seen lights across the city.
But it turned out the lights were the results of Chinese lanterns being released at a wedding reception at The Lawn in Union Road, Lincoln.
Sylvia Hull, regional adviser for the CLA, said: "Chinese lanterns may look pretty, but people should understand the potential fire and animal health threat they are releasing. We think this is a genuine health and safety issue."
3 Comments
by moocher, Lincoln
Saturday, August 28 2010, 12:02PM
“Strange isn't it how you can get a fixed penalty fine for dropping a cigarette butt in the street but these things can be released en-mass to litter the countryside freely”
by Emma, Lincoln
Saturday, August 28 2010, 12:01PM
“If you bothered to read the article David you'd know that people aren't complaining about them rising into the sky but about when they fall back to earth.”
by David, Lincoln
Saturday, August 28 2010, 9:59AM
“Although I have never even thought about releasing one of these lanterns into the sky, it strikes me as being strange that people are complaining about them silently rising into the night sky and yet the launching of noisy, dangerous, explosive fireworks which scare our pets and are a nuisance seems to be accepted.”