Residents of a Kinross-shire community have raised fears that hot-air balloon pleasure flights could cause cattle stampedes.
Locals have been in touch with the police to voice concern that balloons could have an adverse impact on livestock in the area.
The issue was raised at a recent meeting of Fossoway and District Community Council and has since been taken up with the force, although as yet there have been no incidents to concern officers.
Hot-air balloons are a regular sight over Perthshire. The Virgin balloon can be seen each day in the sky over Perth and pleasure flights are becoming increasingly popular.
However, the nature of the balloons which travel on the wind, cannot be steered in the conventional sense and as a result do not land in designated places or on airfields has left some residents worried.
Pilots control their altitude with the burners and choose safe, open spaces for landing. Nonetheless in recent months a number of Perth residents have contacted The Courier to express concern over what they described as “near misses.”
A police spokeswoman said the issue of balloons had been raised but there had so far been no cause for concern.
“Our community officer (for Fossoway) was approached by a local resident who expressed concern at low-flying hot-air balloons in the area and the potential for the pleasure flight balloons to worry or frighten animals,” she said.
“However, there have been no reported incidents of cattle stampedes, or indeed any other animals being harmed or frightened in any way by the presence of the hot-air balloons.”
Homeowners in the Gannochy area of Perth looked on as a hot-air balloon offering pleasure flights touched down in a field just yards from the main A94 Perth to Scone Road in April.
One resident said, “I felt that it had come down perilously close to what is a very busy road and also extremely close to a residential area.”
In August a balloon came close to homes in the town’s Tulloch area, passing low in the sky by houses and eventually landing on waste ground to the side of Woods the printers, yards from the A9.
On both occasions flight operators said the balloons were under the “complete control” of pilots, who executed textbook landings.