BABERGH STUBS OUT SMOKING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE ITS BUILDINGS

Babergh District Council has voted to go beyond its legal requirements in banning smoking in many of the open areas on its property. At the same time, Councillors backed Babergh’s involvement in a free NHS-run scheme aimed at helping staff and Members who smoke to give up the habit.

The Council already complies with legislation in making its buildings – including its Hadleigh HQ and communal areas in its Sheltered Housing Schemes - smoke-free. Today (May 31st) Strategy Committee Councillors supported recommendations to ban smoking in the gardens and other open areas leading up to these properties.

In the case of Babergh’s HQ, this ban will extend to the courtyard outside the canteen, the open area leading up to the front entrance of the property and the bike sheds in the car park. For the first time, the communal areas in the Council’s Homelessness Reception Centre at Stour House in Sudbury will become smoke-free.

Those who do not comply with the restrictions may be subject to a fixed penalty notice of £50 (£30 if paid within 14 days) or even a maximum fine of £200 if the matter goes to a Magistrates’ Court.

Cllr. Nick Ridley, Chairman of the Strategy Committee explained “one of our five corporate priorities is to promote healthy living. We are also responsible for enforcing the new Smoke-free Regulations in Babergh. As such we feel that we should be taking the lead in being as robust as possible in creating a healthy environment for visitors, staff and Councillors”.

Babergh will ensure that appropriately positioned ‘No Smoking’ signs and details of are located in the new smoke-free areas.

At the same time, Babergh is mailing hundreds of local businesses with a special edition of its health and safety newsletter – WorkSafe – detailing what they have to do to comply with the new Regulations from 1st July.

According to Julian Halls, Babergh’s Principal Food & Safety Officer, “the newsletter gives practical advice to owners as to what to do if a customer lights up and an explanation as to why going smoke-free is a good thing”.

Any business wanting advice or a member of the public wishing to report any infringement of the Regulations in Babergh should call (01473) 825892