The Blackpool NHS initiative, supported by Blackpool Council, is an attempt to raise awareness about the dangers of passive smoking to children.
Signs have been put up at 14 park and playground entrances. They read, ‘Altogether Now. To protect children, this is a designated smokefree site.’
Currently, children in the UK are not protected by law from exposure to passive smoking in playgrounds, so any such ban is on voluntary basis.
This move follows a string of announcements of smoke-free play areas across the country. Earlier this year, Caerphilly Council in Wales made its playgrounds smoke-free.
Blackpool Council commented, ‘It’s an advisory message of "Think before you light up a cigarette". It’s about creating a healthier community and families around Blackpool, so you’ve got children who are not inhaling passive smoking by going to the playground.’
Cllr Ivan Taylor, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said, ‘We'll have to wait and see what the reaction is but I think most people would welcome the reason for it. Smoking is a killer and we need to do all we can to discourage it.’
Amanda Sandford, research manager at anti-smoking charity Ash, welcomed the news, ‘It’s about changing people’s attitudes. Smoking is anti-social and it’s particularly hazardous for the children who are exposed to second-hand smoke.'
She added, 'Children may find smoking attractive and being a smoker as something to aspire to as it sends out a signal that smoking is part of adult behaviour.'
Elsewhere in the world, smoking in parks and play areas is banned in Spain, Poland, Hungary and Singapore.
