CHINESE lanterns could be banned from public events and licensed premises across the Vale of White Horse today.
Councillors propose to stop them being released across the county as they can cause “a risk to public safety through fire and a hazard to aircraft”.
They are also considering banning the lanterns from council-owned land.
The proposed condition says: “No sky lanterns shall be released from the licensed premises or associated land when licensable activities are being undertaken.”
The ban will apply only when premises apply for a new or varied licence or a review of its licence is called. The Vale also proposes adding a statement to its licensing policy saying Chinese lanterns pose a “risk to public safety through fire and a hazard to aircraft”.
The original motion was brought to the full council meeting by councillors Robert Sharp and Melinda Tilley.
The licensing acts committee will meet at the council’s Abbey House, in Abingdon, from 6.30pm.
A Chinese lantern destroyed thousands of pounds worth of barley in farmland at Stonesfield, near Woodstock, in August 2010.
In July this year Poundland became the first retailer to stop selling Chinese lanterns after one caused £6m of damage to a recycling centre near Birmingham.
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