SKY lanterns and helium balloons drifting through the skies of West Oxfordshire could become a thing of the past thanks to a council clampdown.

The cabinet of West Oxfordshire District Council last week backed measures to prevent the release of the objects from council-owned land, to protect wildlife and the environment.

On top of that, the council will write to all town and parish councils in the district asking them to introduce a similar policy on their own land.

Toby Morris, deputy leader of the council, said that WODC was sending a message and hoped residents would pay attention and follow the lead.

He said: “There is growing evidence of the dangers to wildlife and the environment presented by the use of these apparently harmless items, the use of which has grown in recent years.

“We are sending a statement that highlights these risks and hope residents will follow our example and prevent their use.”

The cabinet’s recommendation follows research that was undertaken by officers at the request of the council’s overview and scrutiny committee last year.

Their report concluded: “Clearly, there are potentially ‘harmful consequences’ to animals, the public, and the environment from helium balloons and sky lanterns.

“The extent of the problem and the risks in West Oxfordshire are unknown, although based on the national research and local data, any action the authority takes needs to be proportionate.

“It appears that there are no powers to control the release of helium balloons or sky lanterns and the council only has the ability to control activities on land it owns and/or controls.”

District councillor for Witney, Andrew Coles, who sits on the council’s environment overview and scrutiny committee, was thrilled to see the cabinet make the recommendation.

He said: “I am delighted this recommendation has gone forward and look forward to the policy being enforced in the near future.”

The recommendation was made at the cabinet meeting on Wednesday, January 10, and is due to go before full council.

All decisions made by the cabinet are subject to the usual 10-day call-in period.

A 2013 report by Defra noted that while ‘anecdotal reports and media coverage suggest widespread concern from farming groups and others over the impacts of sky lanterns on the health and welfare of livestock and horses’ the actual risk presented was minor.

It was noted however that the lanterns did present a significant risk of fire, with blazes reported from sources including the Chief Fire Officers Association.

The report concluded that any of the fires reported had the potential to cause significant disruption, loss of property and risk to human and animal life.