Smoke-free pavements outside pubs, cafes and
bars should be introduced to make them more family-friendly and
healthy spaces as high streets look to recover from the lockdown,
councils say today.
The Local Government Association, which
represents councils in England, is urging peers to support an
amendment to the Business and Planning Bill to be debated in the
House of Lords on Monday, which would make all pavement licences
issued by councils subject to the condition that they are
smoke-free places.
Those wishing to avoid exposure to second-hand
smoke would normally be able to stay inside. But with the
pandemic meaning indoor access is now more restricted, local
authorities need the powers to reflect this new reality and to
not put off people from going out to eat and
drink.
This would give customers and families
certainty that anywhere they go for a drink or a meal out, they
will not be exposed to someone else’s cigarette smoke and also
prevent neighbouring premises, particularly in cramped inner-city
areas, from being exposed to second-hand
smoke.
This measure would also contribute to the
Government’s ambition of England becoming a smoke-free nation by
2030, following recent figures showing a continuing decline in
the number of people smoking, including many quitting the habit
during the pandemic.
The LGA is urging peers to back an amendment to
the Business and Planning Bill which would require all pavement
licences to be issued on the condition they are designated as
smoke-free public places.
The Government has now brought forward its own
amendment that would require licence-holders to make
“reasonable provision for seating where smoking is not
permitted”. The LGA is pleased the Government has acknowledged
this issue and urges peers to, at the very least, accept this
amendment.
Cllr Paulette Hamilton, Vice Chair of the LGA’s
Community Wellbeing Board, said:
“Councils have worked hard to help hospitality
businesses reopen, including relaxing requirements and making
changes to roads and pavements to enable pubs, cafes and bars to
operate outside safely with more outdoor
seating.
“Pavement licensing should not be a catalyst to
increase smoking in public places, putting people at greater risk
of ingesting second-hand smoke when they are enjoying a drink or
a meal.
“We urge peers to hand councils the ability to
extend smoke-free areas to include pavements so this alfresco
summer can be enjoyed by everyone.
“Reducing smoking in public places has been
vital to improving public health, which councils are responsible
for. Smoking is still the leading cause of
preventable death and councils want to work with government on
how to keep driving down smoking rates for the benefit of a
healthier society.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
-
The Business and Planning Bill -
intended to support the hospitality and other industries get
back on their feet - is due to have its third and final stages
of debate in the Lords on Monday. Section 5 of the Bill already
sets out that conditions can be put on pavement licences by
local authorities or by the Secretary of
State.
-
Amendments 13 and 14, tabled by
on behalf of the
Government, intend to make provisions in pavement licences for
smoke-free seating conditions.
-
Amendment 15, tabled by and
supported by ,
and , intends to require that all pavement licences are
subject to the condition that they are designated as smoke-free
public places.
