Tsar to aid smoke ban (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Tsar to aid smoke ban

AN ANTI-SMOKING tsar could be working in Swindon by the autumn.

Job adverts for the post will go out in June and health bosses hope to have the person working well before the end of the year.

The plan is being drawn up by Swindon Council and the town's primary care trust, both of which have said that eventually they would like to see smoking banned in all public places in the town.

The news follows a week after Ireland banned smoking in public places, including pubs and restaurants.

The Government has awarded the Swindon scheme £24,000, which will pay for the new recruit, who will be responsible for investigating an Irish-style blanket ban and examining existing or new by-laws which could be used to introduce future legislation.

The tsar will also be responsible for helping firms and organisations that want to bring in their own rules against smoking.

Toni Smith, acting public health programme manager at the PCT, said: "We have been successful in getting £24,000 from the Government, and the next step is making sure the person who gets the post is in the most effective position, whether they are based at Swindon Council or the primary care trust.

"They will give help and support to any organisation prepared to go smoke-free."

Ms Smith said she was pleased by the reaction to the Ireland legislation, as it had not sparked too much protest.

She said: "About 26 per cent of the adult population smokes, which means about three out of four people do not.

"This is about protecting the health of people who don't smoke. It's clear that we are talking about a small number of smokers compared to non-smokers."

Last week the Advertiser reported the views of Michael Pomery, landlord of The Glue Pot pub in Emlyn Square, who fears he would go bankrupt if forced to implement a no-smoking rule.

He said: "I'd love to be able to bring in a ban but I just couldn't afford to."