The door has been kept open to possible restrictions on using disposable barbecues as well as releasing sky lanterns and balloons on Isle of Wight Council-owned land, despite the council citing insufficient funding and supporting evidence issues.
Councillors have asked for a future report setting out the feasibility, legal and resource implications, resource requirements and estimated costs of a restricted or seasonal approach for identified high-risk sites, to be presented in September.
A council paper previously advised the environment and community protection committee (ECPC) to acknowledge there is currently ‘insufficient’ funding, organisational capacity and supporting evidence to progress the restriction policies.
It came after a public consultation found 69% of respondents support a restriction on disposable barbecues, compared to 88% for sky lanterns, 84% for balloon releases and 82% supporting the use of Fixed Penalty Notices for enforcement.
On 30th July 30, the environment and community protection committee backed a proposal from Conservative councillor Ed Blake with input from Green Party representative Vix Lowthion.
As previously reported by Island Echo, it was agreed the future report should include a summary of existing enforcement powers, information from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) regarding wildfire impacts where available and opportunities for partnership working, education and signage.
The approved motion also says the committee requests a briefing from HIWFRS, together with an estimated cost of the recent Headon Warren fire response.
It reads:
“If a future report is to weigh prevention against affordability it should do so against a real figure for what a single day wildfire cost is to the public purse. ”
In addition, the proposal said there should be communication with Island retailers and campsites to withdraw disposable barbecues and paper lanterns from sale during declared high-risk periods and to the Isle of Wight’s two MPs to ask them to lobby government to ban the sale of these items.
Cllr Blake said:-
“I’ve personally been fighting a campaign against balloon releases for some time. As a commercial fisherman, particularly this time of year, we are inundated with balloons at sea.
“Not only is it an annoyance because I go to something thinking it’s my marker buoy to find it’s a blooming balloon again, it’s a direct risk to sea life and all flora and fauna across our biosphere.
“The fire risk – obviously that’s been absolutely highlighted in the recent events and barbecues do potentially provide a risk of wildfires, particularly given that we are now more predisposed to drought conditions like we are currently experiencing.
“And for me, fire lanterns are a hybrid of both of those.”
Cllr Lowthion said we are seeing Spain, France and the West Wight ‘burning’ and praised Blackgang Chine’s ‘responsible’ cancellation of its planned fireworks.
She told the chamber there cannot be inaction on the issue.
Cllr Mark Rochell, a Liberal Democrat, said:
“I know we don’t have a lot of resources to enforce a ban but a ban rather than a suggestion seems to work a lot more.
“We’re in this room – we know there’s a ban on smoking in this room. We don’t need signs all around here and an enforcement officer in the corner making sure we don’t light up.
“We know it’s a ban, so we follow the law and we don’t do it. It’s more forceful if it’s a ban so I wouldn’t want that to go off the table at this point.”
what the hell did they think The Island population were going to say?a big fat nowt!it needs putting in place now not when the rains come if they ever do again!.