Calls to end mass balloon releases in Brighton and Hove received a positive response from councillors.
Local Labour Party member Theresa Fowler presented a deputation to Brighton and Hove City Council calling for a ban on the release of balloons and sky lanterns.
She said: “In the last few years it has grown in fashion to release balloons and sky lanterns at special events, funerals and memorials.
“In Brighton a number of schools and nurseries release balloons in parks at the end of the school years.
“The Marine Conservation Society has said that 53 per cent more balloon-related litter has been found on our beaches this year than in 2015.”
The full council, meeting at Hove Town Hall, was told that Dutch coastline campaigners said that 13,000 balloons were washed up on the nation’s coast every week.
Other concerning evidence included
- A three-year-old horse choke to death on a balloon string
- Two swans were entangled in a balloon string
- A pilot whale was found dying of starvation with 70 plastic bags in its stomach
The Labour council leader Daniel Yates said: “I am sure council across the chamber welcomes this. There have been a number of motions about pollution and single-use plastics.”
Councillor Yates added that a report would be prepared for him and his colleagues to consider.
It is expected to be discussed at the council’s Policy, Resources and Growth Committee meeting in October.
Someone needs to invent biodegradeable balloons….that disintegrate into natural substances within 24 hours which fall harmlessly to earth. Design challenge!
Or maybe we should have more respect and not leave this kind of trash around?
Some of these lanterns are “biodegradable” as they are made from paper and wooden sticks. Which then fall to earth in farmers fields where the cattle and sheep eat them and get them stuck in throats.
This is classic selfish society – leave a mess for someone else to clean up.