Island residents are being asked for their views on whether the use of disposable barbecues and the release of sky lanterns and balloons should be restricted on council-owned land.
The Isle of Wight Council is consulting on a proposal that could lead to a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) covering beaches, seafronts, parks, playgrounds, country parks and other open spaces.
The consultation runs until Tuesday 27th January 2026.
The aim is to find out whether these activities are causing a nuisance and to understand public support for possible restrictions.
The proposed measures are intended to reduce environmental harm, fire risks and injuries to wildlife linked to barbecue waste and debris from lanterns and balloons.
A PSPO is a legal tool available to local authorities under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
It allows councils to restrict certain activities in public spaces if they are considered to have a detrimental effect on the quality of life for people in the area. Breaching a PSPO can result in a fixed penalty notice or prosecution.
Councillor Karen Lucioni, chair of the council’s Environment and Community Safety Committee, said: “We want to hear from as many people as possible.
“Your views will help us understand whether these activities are causing problems and whether restrictions would be supported. Please take part in the consultation and have your say.”
“Similar steps have been taken elsewhere, with Dorset Council banning barbecues in high fire-risk areas and the RSPCA campaigning to end what it calls “sky litter”.
Before any decision is made, the council must consult statutory bodies, stakeholders and the public.
The survey is online. Paper copies can be collected from County Hall, and anyone wishing to obtain a copy by post can call 821000 or email [email protected].
Banning balloons and lanterns will, at best, drive the activities onto private land, be difficult to enforce and have minimal effect. Balloons can travel hundreds of miles, across whole continents. It would be better to support ways to eliminate the environmental impact and development of safer alternatives.
For disposable barbecues the solution adopted elsewhere is to provide designated areas with proper facilities for safe use and disposal. That avoids penalising those who want to act responsibly.
Coming in with a big stick and rules that may be viewed as unreasonable causes resentment and avoidance rather than compliance and will probably be seen as yet another tax or revenue stream.
PSPOs are controversial and currently subject to a legal challenge over their excessive scope.
I fully agree with the comments about. Sky lanterns and balloons. Balloons are also hazardous when they drop into the sea and get swallowed by things like turtles.
Both should be banned, period.
Oh give us a break bloody control this world is ours too not just for people in power as long as i’d like to think most are good considerate people..whats problem..
We found a disposable barbecue smoking in a public toilet on the Shanklin esplanade a few years ago.
Phoned the fire brigade and they said if it isn’t on fire they don’t care. Flush the toilet.
Sounds like some sort of phobia or ism against people whose cultural practices are defined by such notions….
Protect the environment?
Like hell.
If that was a concern, they would stop the development of our precious land/green spaces
This is an erosion of our freedoms.
See it for what it is.
A couple of moaners will be the only beneficiary’s.
How many sky lanterns are released? Bit of a fad a few years ago I know.
How many 100k’s of our money to implement?
Stalins Britain……
And ban fireworks, and don’t forget ban speeding.
Lol
Ho Ho Ho
Some years ago, I went down to our beach hut to do some repairs after work and a large group of boys gathered behind it. They were hitting the back of the hut with something, maybe a ball and I asked them to stop. One boy looked very sheepish. Next day I went down there and found a barbeque underneath it. It was not there before.
Why don’t you just ban people? Problem solved…. Can’t fart without the council being involved nowadays
So basically a Nuissance can be anything and everything that the council grumpies want to ban. No BBQ should not be banned from some of those places IE beaches but should be from playgrounds. So the problem will be is the people doing the consultation really have no brain power to think this through.
If you spent money on educating people on responsible use and disposal of BBQs then the issue disappears. Get on with the real problems like repairing the roads and ensuring regular reliable ferry services at a realistic price
You really are naive if you think “education” will solve the problem.People are aware of the correct way to dispose of things, they are just to lazy and selfish
to care.
With everything going on we are now possibly going to employ the Barbecue and Latern enforcement officers, I think monies would better be spent on maintaining public facilities, if the consultation says they should be banned, I expect local residents will say No, but second home owners will be all for it !
Honestly what is this world coming to. Banning one use disposable BBQ’s that can be recycled!
just because a few people leave a used bbq doesn’t mean they should be banned. People leave all manner of rubbish along the beach and parks.
if you want to help ban dogs in public areas all year round
If there is a problem with portable bbqs, deal with those causing the problem, not ban them for everyone and introduce more controlling for those NOT causing one.
Best common sense comment,but the council dont have any common sense.