Arun District Council is asking residents to ignore a campaign that encourages the public to light Chinese sky lanterns in a show of solidarity for carers.
Releasing sky lanterns on Council land is banned as they are a serious fire hazard that pose a risk to livestock and wildlife, as well as thatched properties and hazardous material sites.
The Council works closely with both the Marine Conservation Society [MCS] and Keep Britain Tidy [KBT] to maintain the cleanliness of Arun’s land and beaches and the lanterns can also cause serious littering problems.
Councillor Dr James Walsh, Leader of Arun District Council, said: “We are strongly urging people NOT to launch Chinese lanterns for the NHS and carers on Thursday. The Council already prohibits them from its parks, gardens, proms and other land as there is a danger of fires being set on thatched roofs, scrub and common land, as well as the very real danger to cattle and other animals of getting their mouths/jaws caught on the metal frames.
“Our emergency services are already overstretched and don’t need more hazards. The littering of the countryside is also unacceptable.
“Let’s stick to the quickly-established Thursday evening demonstration of our appreciation for carers by clapping and banging a pot or pan instead.”
Sky lanterns, which are also called Chinese lanterns, are a sort of hot-air balloon made of paper.
For more information, visit www.arun.gov.uk