Bristol squares aim to stub out cigarettes with voluntary outdoor smoking ban
|
Version 0 of 1. Two busy harbourside squares are to become the UK’s first major outdoor spaces to become smoking-free zones from Monday. Millennium Square and Anchor Square in Bristol, which are popular family destinations and often host cultural events, are to be turned into voluntary cigarette-, cigar- and pipe-free areas. No formal, enforceable ban will be imposed but 11 signs dotted around the squares will ask smokers not to light up and thank people for helping “keep Bristol smoke-free, healthy and clean”. The scheme has won support among health campaigners, the city council and most of the businesses in the area, but it has also been strongly criticised by the lobbying group Forest, which fights against smoking bans. Simon Clark, director of Forest, said: “Smoking is banned in all enclosed public places. Now campaigners want to ban it outside. This is creeping prohibition. “Extending public smoking bans to outdoor areas is illiberal and unwarranted. Smoking in the open air harms no one apart, perhaps, from the consumer and that’s their choice. “Tobacco is a legal product. Smokers contribute £10bn a year in tobacco taxation alone. They must be allowed to light up somewhere without harassment.” The group behind the six-month pilot scheme, Smokefree South West, argues that the scheme will help families get greater enjoyment out of the two spaces. Kate Knight, deputy director of the group, which is commissioned by 15 public health teams across the region, said the scheme would be “self-policing”. She said the signs were designed to be polite but persuasive. “We hope that it encourages people not to smoke and gives people confidence to ask others to stop if they are smoking.” Knight accepted that it would inconvenience some customers of the bars and restaurants in the squares. “But it only takes them about 20 seconds to walk out of the squares. We don’t want to make the lives of smokers hell.” She argued it would make it more pleasant for non-smokers, who often find it difficult to drink or dine al fresco without being surrounded by smokers. The initiative builds on a smoke-free play parks project – called Better Places to Play – which also involves signs asking smokers to avoid lighting up in or near playgrounds across the south west. The group says a third of smokers stopped smoking in the play parks where the signs were introduced. It also comes in the light of a report last year by former health minister Lord Darzi that suggested London and other UK cities should ban smoking in parks and public spaces. Cities including New York, Toronto and Hong Kong have banned smoking in key outdoor locations. Green councillor Daniella Radice, who is assistant mayor for neighbourhoods and public health in Bristol, said she was excited to see how the pilot might change people’s habits. “I hope it will make Bristol an even more enjoyable place to visit, especially as this year we are European Green Capital.” It is not only Forest that has reservations. Fifty three per cent of people questioned supported a voluntary ban. But only 32% of smokers agreed. On the other hand 61% of people felt the area would be better if it was smoke-free, suggesting that it is the nature of the scheme rather than the concept that might be causing concern. Eleven of the 15 businesses nearby have backed the plan. Over the weekend, families visited the science centre @Bristol, which manages the squares, while smokers enjoyed – possibly – their last cigarettes in the areas. Jane May, who was visiting Millennium Square with her two toddlers, said: “I must admit I hadn’t noticed that it was a problem here. Perhaps it changes at night but smoking hasn’t been a problem for me and my family here. I suppose it does make a statement that smoking isn’t a good thing – which I do support.” Paul Bennett, though, was taking a smoking break outside @Bristol, which he was visiting with his three children, aged 4-10. “I don’t think it will work,” he said. “It won’t stop me from smoking here,” said Bennett, a Bristolian. “We’re not allowed to smoke inside and that’s fine but I don’t see what’s wrong with smoking outside. It doesn’t harm anyone and I don’t smoke near children.” Smoker Sam Henderson was also unimpressed. ”They’ve forced us out of the pubs and bars and restaurants. Now they want to stop us completely. I think it may harm trade here – if people can’t pop outside for a fag, especially in cold weather, they’ll probably choose to go somewhere else.” |