Council bosses praise local businesses

No smoking sign

Council bosses are praising local businesses for their compliance with the smoking ban. There has been an excellent response to the new smoke free legislation. In the first two months following the introduction of the smoke free legislation, the Environmental Health and licensing service carried out almost 2000 visits to businesses within the Rochdale Borough and found 99% to be smoke free and compliant with the new laws.

A few complaints are received that people are still smoking in the entrances to buildings and also in smoke free work vehicles. These areas are covered by the law and must be smoke free. Over the next couple of months Environmental Health will be tightening up on the enforcement of smoking in these areas.

Anyone wanting advice on how the smoke free legislation applies to them should visit the smoke free England website, www.smokefreeengland.co.uk, or contact Environmental Health and Licensing Service on (01706) 924225.

Cigarette litter has also been identified as a problem in some areas. One of the biggest myths about cigarette ends is that they quickly biodegrade and yet in reality they take many years to decompose. Nationally smoking litter makes up 40% of the rubbish found on our streets and costs a staggering £200 million a year to rid the streets of dumped cigarette ends in Britain.

Locally, Parish Priest of Saint Joseph's, Heywood, Father Paul Day is only too aware of the problem, he says: "Whenever I open the main doors of Saint Joseph's, either on Sundays or, in the week, for funerals, I have now to remove the discarded cigarette butts from the workers at the Boots warehouse across the road. The rest of their discarded butts they themselves throw over the steps so the front of the church looks like a smokers' paradise.

"There is a smoking area provided in their car park next to the church but many prefer our steps.

"I wrote to the manager at Boots asking for advice to be given and I am pleased to say Boots management were on the phone to me immediately on receipt of my letter with a comprehensive list of actions they are taking in response, so well done, Boots."

In a bid to try to reduce the amount of cigarette litter, The Tidy Britain Group is working in partnership with cigarette bin manufacturers to offer businesses the chance to purchase smoking bins at a discounted price.

For a list of participating companies visit the Tidy Britain website at www.encams.org.uk, or contact Environmental Health and Licensing Service on (01706) 924225.