Liberal Democrat Leader calls for Play Areas to go Smoke Free

The Leader of the Opposition and Liberal Democrat Group Leader on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has written to the Leader of the Council, Councillor Jean Stretton, asking her to make play areas in Oldham smoke free.

Oldham Council has recently proposed that Parliament Square be made smoke-free. Whilst Councillor Sykes supports this, he is confident that Oldham Council can do so much more.

“Smoking is a public health emergency; it is a contributory factor in many of the deaths that occur in our Borough from cancer, heart disease and strokes, and it causes chronic ill-health amongst many of our residents,” stated Councillor Sykes.  “We should do all that we can to reduce tobacco consumption, and above all to reduce the exposure of non-smokers, especially children, to tobacco smoke.”

In his letter to the Council Leader, Councillor Sykes cites voluntary bans introduced in Basingstoke and Deane and in Norwich to prevent smoking in children’s play areas.

“Although such ‘bans’ are voluntary, they are intended to provide a further ‘nudge’ in behaviour to encourage smokers to refrain from smoking in areas where children may breathe their secondary smoke,” added Councillor Sykes.  “These bans had strong support from the public in consultations, and they have been successful in affecting behaviour change.”

“I therefore believe that they should be introduced in our play areas here and I have asked the Leader to consider consulting on and piloting several such schemes,” he said.

Councillor Sykes does however caution about excluding E-cigarettes from any ban.

“I think it should be clear that these bans apply equally to E-smokers as well as smokers; partially because it is often unclear where an E-cigarette in use is actually nicotine-free.”

The email sent to Council Leader Councillor Jean Stretton below.

From: Howard Sykes
Sent: 20 October 2017 14:34
To: Cllr J Stretton
Cc: (A) Kay Gibson (kay.gibson@oldham.gov.uk); Carolyn Wilkins
Subject: Smoke free areas

Dear Jean,

I note and support the recent proposals of Oldham Council to make Parliament Square smoke-free as a contribution to the Tobacco Free Greater Manchester Plan.

If we do this, I think it should be clear that it applies equally to E-smokers as well as smokers; partially because it is often unclear where an E-cigarette in use is actually nicotine-free

But I do think we can be more ambitious.

In other local authority areas, just two examples in Basingstoke and Deane and in Norwich, voluntary bans were introduced in play areas, following strong support for such measures in public consultation.  Although such ‘bans’ are voluntary, they are intended to provide a further ‘nudge’ in behaviour to encourage smokers to refrain from smoking in areas where children may breathe their secondary smoke.  In Norwich, the associated signage is paid for by the local CCG so, if we can get our health partners on board, there may be no actual installation cost to the Council.

I certainly think it is worth consulting on and piloting a few schemes in play areas across the Borough.

We should too ask our social housing providers to look to adopt this approach, as many outdoor play areas are managed by First Choice Homes and some by Great Places.

Lastly can review where our own staff can smoke in and around the Civic Centre and other Council buildings to ensure that smoking does not take place in areas shared with the public?

I look forward to receiving your reply and as always happy to discuss.

Best wishes.

Howard

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Opposition, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group Oldham Council, Member for Shaw Ward, Member for South Ward Shaw & Crompton Parish Council.

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