Cheshire East Council is considering introducing voluntary smoke free areas in the boroughs parks.
The Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Care Services will consider a report on Monday, 5th November, which recommends the implementation of a voluntary code of smoke free practice in children's play areas on land owned by Cheshire East Council.
The report states "The voluntary code of smoke free practice will not be legally enforceable in outdoor areas, but it will empower the community to influence the behaviour of smokers within the play areas."
Any extension to the smoke free legislation for public places and worksites, under the Health Act 2009, can only be taken at national level. Whilst a voluntary code of practice supports self regulation and would be implemented at local level through working with partners and various council services.
To implement the new voluntary smoke free zones across the borough will cost £2,295, this is the total cost to place a sign in each of the 170 play areas. £1500 of this will be funded through Heart of Mersey, on behalf of the Cheshire and Merseyside Tobacco Alliance, and the remainder will come from the Health Improvement budget.
The report continues "The proposed implementation of smoke free playgrounds will reduce child exposure to smoking and de-normalise tobacco use within the community. In the long term this will assist in decreasing the uptake of smoking within the youth population. It will also reduce the levels of unsightly litter created by discarded cigarettes, wrappers, matches in the play areas and reduce the risk of harm from toxic cigarette butts."
Cheshire East Council carried out a survey across 17 local parks during the Summer of 2012. 162 people were asked for their views on the introduction of a voluntary code of smoke free practice. The parks were located in geographically diverse areas.
The results showed overwhelming public support for the introduction of a voluntary smoke free code to the play areas in Local Authority parks (97.5%). Nearly all the participants agreed that it was important not to smoke in front of children (98.8%). A large percentage of the participants agreed with the extension of the smoke free area to include a 10 metre perimeter of the play area, however only 56.8% were in favour of introducing a smoke free voluntary code for the whole of the park.
Proposed voluntary smoke free areas in Wilmslow include: The Carrs, Booth Road, Fulshaw Park on Gravel Lane, Lacey Green on Barlow Road, Stanley Hall Park on Peover Road, Thorngrove Play Area and Welton Drive.
What do you think about the proposal? Will the voluntary smoke free areas be enforceable? Share your views via the comment box below.
Comments
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In fact, I regularly see far too many children just outside the gates of Wilmslow High School, cigarette in hand, without the slightest effort to conceal the fact they are smoking - I am shocked that such a good school should allow smoking literally just outside its own gates :(
I suspect the true cost of this rather pointless excercise (it's only a voluntary scheme after all) will be many many times the £2,295 quoted above.
Use the money to clear the rubbish bins more often.
Smoking outside is not illegal and these signs are more likely to cause arguments than to stop smokers.