Council Urges Residents To Not Support Sky Lantern Campaign

Guildford Borough Council joins the National Fire Chiefs Council, RSPCA and other organisations in urging residents to not support a social media campaign to light sky lanterns on Thursday night.

We will be joining in the national #clapforcarers applause at 8pm and encourage our residents to do the same, but sky lanterns are a danger to the environment and wildlife and a fire risk and we ask residents not to light them.

Cllr Fiona White, Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Personal Health, Safety and Wellbeing, says:

“We are aware of a campaign to light sky lanterns as part of the Clap For Carers initiative. This is exceptionally dangerous and puts lives, property and our emergency services at further risk and under greater pressure. We therefore do not support or condone this. The recent dry weather also puts large parts of our environment at additional risk of fire.

“Please do support our wonderful NHS staff and other key workers – but do it safely, by clapping and cheering. We have already expressed the borough’s thanks to our NHS colleagues in letters at Stoke Park, by lighting up Guildford Castle and bathing the Guildhall in blue, and will continue to join residents in clapping at 8pm every Thursday night.”