Rother District Council bans use of ‘dangerous’ sky lanterns on its land

The council has banned launching the devices from its land – including beaches and parks – and is encouraging people not to launch them from private land.

The move comes in the wake of a ‘misguided’ campaign encouraging the public to light the lanterns as a show of solidarity for NHS workers during the coronavirus crisis, says the council.

Rother has joined dozens of councils across the country in speaking out against the campaign, which has been criticised by the National Farmers’ Union and the National Fire Chiefs Council.

Councillor Doug Oliver, Rother District Council leader, said although sky lanterns look pretty, ‘they can destroy acres of crops, food stores and farm buildings, kill or injure livestock or wild animals and put people’s safety at risk, particularly if they land on hazardous material sites’.

He added: “At a time when our emergency services are working tirelessly during a national emergency, the last thing they need is to have to waste their time on unnecessary fires caused by sky lanterns.”