Blackpool 'bans' smoking in public parks to protect children's health‎

Moves are being made to ban smoking in Blackpool’s parks. Signs are to go up at the entrances to 13 parks and playing fields advising the public the areas are now smoke-free sites. Health bosses have said the move was being made to protect children from the dangers of smoking, but the policy has been branded ‘outrageous’ by those who fear it could drive visitors away.

The park signs will be inscribed with the message: “To protect children this is a designated smokefree site.” Coun Ivan Taylor, chairman of Blackpool’s Health and Wellbeing Board, said he backed the move to discourage smoking in playgrounds. “Smoking is a killer and we need to do all we can to discourage it.”



NHS Blackpool is paying for the signs to be installed. However, Gary Pennington, chairman of the Friends of Highfield Park, said the money for signs could be better spent elsewhere. He added: “We think this is outrageous. We really cannot see what the problem is when people are out in the open air.”

Tory councillor Henry Mitchell, who is a member of Blackpool Council’s health committee, said money should be spent on educating young people against the perils of smoking instead of on signs. He added: “I think this really is going a bit too far.” At present a ban is not enforceable, although the council could seek to introduce by-laws under the Localism Bill in the future.