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 Alderley Edge include: Alderley Park on Ryleys Lane, Beech Road Park and Festival Drive in Over Alderley.
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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Signs at £1,500 each, Officer time, Partnership meetings, where will the expense end? All for a voluntary code. The "survey" was 162 people over 17 parks during the Summer. 10 people per park, on average, over a 10 week period? One person per week per park? Is it Hallowe'en or All Fools Day?
I have now made the article clearer.
Now you have made me confused, £2,295 for 170 signs, which is £13.50 each. I don't think that is any where near the cost. That is about 10 minutes of time allocated to travel to each park and put up each sign, even if the signs were free. Not anywhere near the cost.
The report for Monday's meeting was not clear so I checked with Cheshire East Council yesterday. £2295 seemed a lot per sign but cheap for 170 signs.
They confirmed "The total cost is £2,295. I have been assured we would not be doing this if it cost £390,150! £1,500 of the £2,295 comes from Heart of Mersey so cost to the Council is £795. The cost is for one sign per play area."
This is the council that has erected signs around the country roads of Sutton & Langley which say 'Quiet Lane'. We know that. What are we supposed to do about it? If somebody were to be noisy on a quiet lane what would happen? Who would hear it? If nobody hears a noise was did it really happen?
Clearly despite the cuts, some public sector workers still have far too much time and money on their hands.
I'm a non-smoker who really hates smoking but, honestly, this is an idea for organisations with money to burn. Wouldn't these people be better employed working out how they are going to fix the pavements in Alderley Edge? Or soon they will be spending more of your money paying compensation to the poor unfortunates who break their legs trying to walk around the village.