THE sight of hundreds of sky lanterns or balloons floating through the sky can be spectacular. . . but back on the ground they can be a real hazard to the environment and wildlife.

So now – amid growing concerns about the impact they have on the environment – Hertfordshire County Council has drawn up plans to ban the release of sky lanterns and balloons from all council premises.

According to the plans – which will be considered on Friday (December 13) –  debris from lanterns and balloons is frequently found littered around the county council estate and the wider countryside.

And once back on the ground there are concerns they can be a hazard to farm animals and wildlife, pollute water, enter the food chain and cause fires.

“The release of lanterns and balloons can be used to celebrate events and raise awareness and money for charities,” says the report to the cabinet panel.

“Such releases pose a significant threat of harm to wildlife and livestock from ingestion, entanglement, entrapment and through the panic they can cause.

“The flame within lanterns can also pose a fire hazard. Both are potential sources of litter and waste in our environment.”

To counter the problem the council has drawn-up plans to  ban the intentional release of balloons or sky lanterns from any council premises – including schools, libraries and registry offices.

However it does recognise that there may be times when individual balloons may be accidentally released, maybe at children’s parties.

The move follows an e-petition to the council started by a member of ‘Plastic Free St Albans, which called on the council to ‘disallow the release of balloons and sky lanterns on land owned or controlled by the council’.

And it recognises the council is uniquely placed to implement the ban – and may encourage others to follow suit.

The ban will be formally considered by members of the council’s resources and performance cabinet panel on Friday (December 13) and by the cabinet the following week (December 16).