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Brighton bid to ban balloons
3:09pm Tuesday 11th March 2008
A new front in the war against plastic is to be opened with plans to clampdown on the release of balloons.
Brighton and Hove City Council is following its bid to ban plastic bags with a new policy to dissuade charities, organisations and businesses from releasing the party accessories.
The move is revealed in a report to the council's sustainability commission which outlines the environmental damage caused by the balloons.
But although the council has the power to fine litterbugs, it said it would be concentrating on convincing organisations not to hold balloon releases.
The crackdown is also likely to feature in the council's sustainable events policy which is being drawn up to guide organisers.
Encams, formerly the Tidy Britain Group, estimates between 90 and 95 per cent of released balloons rise to an altitude of five miles where they burst into small fragments and fall to earth.
The remaining 5 to 10 per cent float back down at least partially inflated and pose a threat to animals which can mistake them for food.
But a study used by balloon manufacturers argues that the small percentage of balloons that do not burst at high altitude are unlikely to be eaten in any great quantity by one animal and that latex balloons are non toxic and biodegradable, breaking down at the same rate as oak tree leaves.
The council is particularly concerned about the impact on marine wildlife.
Several species of animal including dolphins, whales, turtles, fish and sea birds have been found dead with balloons in their stomachs.
Dr Peter Jones, a national marine environment expert, said: "These balloons can easily end up in the tropics due to sea currents, and we increasingly find turtles around our shores due to climate change.
"We know balloons kill turtles as they look like their food, jellyfish.
"This is one of the few areas in the marine environment where we have a clear cause and effect link - and the solution is simple".
A spokeswoman for the council added: "The line proposed in the balloons paper is to urge people not to do these releases and to think of alternatives.
"We have no plans at present to take action against people for littering. This would be very difficult, if not impossible, to prove practically as balloons generally land a long way from their release point.
"But we do want to dissuade people from these balloon releases because of the known impact on wildlife, especially marine wildlife, and because of our location."
Nikky West, the co-owner of Portslade-based Balloon Wise, said that most balloon releases were organised in-house and that people often did not select biodegradable balloons and used ribbons, which could be dangerous to animals.
She added: "We go for the most environmentally friendly option and we do not use ribbon.
"I would say it would be more sensible for the council to ask for biodegradable balloons and to use professional services.
"I can't say it will not have any effect on our business - two jobs a year is less business but it is not something we are too worried about."
Your Say YourArgus
Gentleman Jim, Brighton says...
3:20pm Tue 11 Mar 08
rb, brighton says...
3:22pm Tue 11 Mar 08
rob, portslade says...
3:30pm Tue 11 Mar 08
peter, brighton says...
3:33pm Tue 11 Mar 08
peter, brighton says...
3:38pm Tue 11 Mar 08
rob wrote:Yeah ive even seen huge whales sat on the beach in Brighton ,,stuffing fish and chips down their screeches.and then dumping their litter.
Next time I blow up a balloon, i'll watch out for turtles and whales...they're very common at Shoreham Harbour!
CornishSeagull, Truro says...
3:44pm Tue 11 Mar 08
Arnold, Brighton says...
3:46pm Tue 11 Mar 08
FFS, it is April 1st already?!!
Honey, Peacehaven says...
3:48pm Tue 11 Mar 08
rb wrote:Balloon launches aren't always about ''marketing''. We recently had a balloon release in memory of a close friend!
balloon launches are nothing but flying litter and a completely useless "marketing" technique. anyone impressed by them, or who feels ending them will somehow infringe on our personal freedoms, really needs to get out more often.
Sounds to me you are the one who needs to get out more often!!
rob, portslade says...
3:50pm Tue 11 Mar 08
peter wrote:It's the turtles their kids usually leave is what makes me feel ill!
rob wrote: Next time I blow up a balloon, i'll watch out for turtles and whales...they're very common at Shoreham Harbour!Yeah ive even seen huge whales sat on the beach in Brighton ,,stuffing fish and chips down their screeches.and then dumping their litter.
freddy, Brighton says...
3:54pm Tue 11 Mar 08
Flat Foot Soozie, Brunswick Square says...
4:08pm Tue 11 Mar 08
flat foot soozie, brunswick square says...
4:10pm Tue 11 Mar 08
modelo1a, Brighton says...
4:24pm Tue 11 Mar 08
freddy wrote:Hear booldy hear!!! You won't be able to frat outdoors next, for fear of adding too much 'wrong air' into the atmosphere. For pity's sake - people get paid good money to come up with this nonsense. Imagine saying to your kids that you can't have a balloon at a party anymore. Right...I'm gonna buy a lorry-load of biiiiiiiig balloons, blow them all up, drive to Kings House, and burst them all in the Chief Exec's face...muppets, the lot of them!!!
Schools all messed up, roads all messed up, council staff being laid off, democracy going out the window with a gov led cabinet, and all this council seems to worry about is there are too many balloons. More like too many buffoons.
rob, portslade says...
4:48pm Tue 11 Mar 08
freddy wrote:...and who said voting Tory would make Brighton a better place...there's no difference to the idiotic decisions made by this tory council to the old labour council.
Schools all messed up, roads all messed up, council staff being laid off, democracy going out the window with a gov led cabinet, and all this council seems to worry about is there are too many balloons. More like too many buffoons.
joh, says...
5:17pm Tue 11 Mar 08
let me remind you of a few ongoing issues:
litter (balloons not really forming the majority of this)
homeless people (not much to celebrate there)
local arts organisations having funding pulled: again, see above.
Stop it Brighton council. You are ridiculous.
Victor Vole, says...
6:12pm Tue 11 Mar 08
Mark, Brighton says...
6:49pm Tue 11 Mar 08
SAD gobby robby, brighton says...
6:51pm Tue 11 Mar 08
idle_irish, hove says...
7:18pm Tue 11 Mar 08
A-Dam, Brighton says...
7:34pm Tue 11 Mar 08
peter brevett, brighton says...
7:44pm Tue 11 Mar 08
This is what happens when your council has a whole department devoted to sustainability. They sit around drinking herbal tea and munching mung beans when through the haze of all the weed smoking one of those hippys says "hey man, lets, like, ban balloon"
Woodingdean Geoff, where I just said. says...
8:34pm Tue 11 Mar 08
Where are they now???
max, hove says...
8:38pm Tue 11 Mar 08
What? er? why? ay? where?, Don't know says...
9:38pm Tue 11 Mar 08
Dave, At home says...
9:51pm Tue 11 Mar 08
What? er? why? ay? where? wrote:Oh you have done it now, you can't say that any more, the PC police are on their way to arrest you now....
Outrageous! Next thing you know they'll ban Golly Wogs.
What about sausage balloons that the kids entertainers use to make dogs? are they banned as well.
bbirth, brighton says...
10:07pm Tue 11 Mar 08
peter wrote:That's right. Save the planet. Ban plastic bags.
Banning plastic bags is a GREAT NEWS..when are people going to realise WE are destroying the Planet.
sharpey, peacehaven says...
10:33pm Tue 11 Mar 08
soon we won't be able to walk in trainers soon because of the rubber wearing away on the ground will hurt the environment
W@nk3r5
scummer, Brighton says...
11:40pm Tue 11 Mar 08
arty farty, says...
12:01am Wed 12 Mar 08
jon, brighton says...
1:44am Wed 12 Mar 08
peter wrote:and when will people realise they are being duped by the worlds biggest marketing campaign? Global, billion dollar business of global warming designed to scare people into parting with their money. Pretty succesful too.
Banning plastic bags is a GREAT NEWS..when are people going to realise WE are destroying the Planet.
Eco Man, Kemp Town says...
9:33am Wed 12 Mar 08
rb, brighton says...
10:05am Wed 12 Mar 08
Honey wrote:i'm very sorry about your friend, really.
rb wrote: balloon launches are nothing but flying litter and a completely useless \"marketing\" technique. anyone impressed by them, or who feels ending them will somehow infringe on our personal freedoms, really needs to get out more often.Balloon launches aren\'t always about \'\'marketing\'\'. We recently had a balloon release in memory of a close friend! Sounds to me you are the one who needs to get out more often!!
there was a balloon launch to 'ban bullying' of all things last year which i thought was rather a silly approach to a serious issue, among other things i've seen so apols to those who choose to remember those who have passed in this way. perhaps a tree being planted is a nice way to honour someone's memory as well.
aa, Has the world gone mad?? says...
10:21am Wed 12 Mar 08
- they use balloons
- waste all that custard in their pies
- their make up has probably been tested on animals
- think how much leather is used making 1 pair of clown shoes
- plus I never trust a grown man who likes dressing up for kiddies parties
Onan, Cubicle says...
10:29am Wed 12 Mar 08
Bansturbation
Remember trying to impose bans is how many folk in local "governement" basically get off.
Whatever floats your boat...
Stephan, Hove says...
11:19am Wed 12 Mar 08
arty farty wrote:I have stated my opinion on homelessness before.
Whatever you think of the idea, it's pretty stupid to say that the council is ignoring homelessness etc to do this. Amazingly, an organisation with thousands of staff *can* do more than one thing at a time.
Nos1 If these people payed their rent on time and in full initially they would not be in the position of homelessness and they cannot complain that when they leave work at the end of the day they have to sleep rough.
Nos2 homeless people are breaking one law or another as with their anti social behaviour, have the council not heard of ASBOs?
Nos3 As a deterrent for breaching said ASBO a short sharp shock 6-9 months in prison.
Nos4 If these suggestions were adhered to their would be more monies to deal with youth crime (of which is of epidemic proportions) and their would also be monies to deal with homophobia and homophobic verbal and physical attacks to be shared amongst the LGBT communities.
Fredflintstone, Brighton says...
4:30pm Wed 12 Mar 08
JOHNBOY, brighton says...
6:58pm Wed 12 Mar 08
flat foot soozie, brunswick square says...
10:33am Thu 13 Mar 08
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Dave, At home says...
3:19pm Tue 11 Mar 08