Lib Dems Call for Smoking Ban in Children's Play Areas

12.19.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 27th Jun 2007

Liberal Democrats on Bath and North East Somerset Council are calling for a smoking ban in children's play areas across the area.

With the smoking ban across England due to come into effect from July 1st Councillor David Dixon (Liberal Democrat, Walcot), father of 3 year old Joe, feels it could be a good opportunity to introduce a ban.

Cllr Dixon said: "We all accept that smoking is bad for health, so why do we put up with it around children? I take my son, Joe, a couple of times a week to the play area at Royal Victoria Park and it is not nice to have people smoking in this park around young children. If they choose to smoke around their own kids it is their choice, but having children doing a healthy physical activity like playing, breathing in other people's smoke I do not think is acceptable."

Liberal Democrats are also concerned about the number of cigarette ends left around the park, on the grass and in the sand pits, which children come in contact with.

Cllr Dixon has called on the Council to introduce a smoking ban in play areas, and will be calling for a by law in parks to enforce this. In the meanwhile, he would like to see a voluntary ban in parks which he hopes that will make smokers think before they light up around playing children.

The problem is not restricted to parks however. At this week's Cabinet meeting Cllr Caroline Roberts (Liberal Democrat, Newbridge) raised the issue of smokers at the RUH making use of a children's play area, as they have been banned from other parts of the hospital site, and secured a pledge from the Cabinet member responsible for Customer Services that he would work with her and the RUH to find a compromise.

Cllr Roberts commented: "This is a problem I have raised a number of times before and I am pleased at the cooperative attitude of Cllr Gerrish. I am sure it will be possible to find a solution to meet the needs of smokers at the RUH and children who use the play area. A voluntary ban on smoking in play areas would be a good start."