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Smoking ban splits opinion

From the archive, first published Thursday 3rd May 2007.

THE debate has raged for several years, but smoking in enclosed public places will soon become a thing of the past.

From July 1, pubs and restaurants in England - like those in the Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales - will be required to display prominent no smoking signs around their premises.

There had been talk some pubs might try to boycott the new regulations, but now it seems everyone has bowed to the inevitable and finally accepted that the changes are going to happen.

Sharon Clough, manager of The Woodman pub, in Colchester Road, Halstead, said the pub has recently had a complete refurbishment including a garden area where people will be able to smoke.

But she said: "I smoke, so personally I don't think the ban is a good thing. It should be up to people to choose what to do.

"It's the Government telling us what to do again."

The Bull Hotel in Bridge Street, is also make changes in order to accommodate smokers.

The hotel has got planning permission to build a timber framed shelter complete with lighting and heating in its beer garden.

The White Hart in the High Street is also having a designated smoking area outside.

Emma Connell, who works there, said: "We have put signs up warning people of the changes coming in and have already banned smoking at the bar to get people used to the idea.

"We get a lot of smokers in the pub so we are not over the moon with the idea of a ban but I think people enjoy coming out so they will still come here even after the ban. It will just take some getting used to."

The Dog Inn, Hedingham Road, is run by the same people as the White Hart, and it also hopes smokers will use the beer garden and will not be put off visiting their local.

Phil Amos, husband of the landlady at The Griffin in Parsonage Street, Halstead, said: "We are just going to have to wait and see how it pans out. The ban won't be too bad when it first comes in because it will be the summer and people will be able to go outside, it's the winter when it will really affect us.

"The goalposts have been moved because originally the Government said if a place doesn't serve food the ban won't affect it and then they changed their minds. Still that's the Government for you."

He said 80 per cent of the customers there smoke and many said they will stop coming to the pub if they cannot light up.

But Richard Turner, landlord of The Royal Oak in the High Street, was more upbeat.

The pub has put decking down outside as an area for people to go and smoke.

He said: "A lot of our lunchtime trade is older people who smoke so I was worried about the ban initially but having spoken to them a lot of them say they have wanted to give up for years and this will help them do it.

"Also a lot of our staff are young people who do not smoke and when you work all evening in a pub you come away reeking of smoke.

"We also own a pub in Sudbury and a lot of the food trade can be put off if they enter a smoky environment. So hopefully this ban could be a good thing."

Smoker Lee Johnson, 41, the new landlord at the Essex Arms, Trinity Street, said he did not expect it to affect trade. He said: "It's the same pub. We are still in the same environment with the same people. People go in a fish and ship shop and wait for their meal take-away and don't smoke, it's no different."

But how will other organisations which are responsible for enclosed public places cope with the changes to the law?

Network Rail said smoking would be banned at all its train stations, while Stansted Airport operator BAA has set up a working group to deal specifically with the new legislation.

Robbie Barrigan, the airport's media relations manager, said: "We are working to make sure all the things that need to be implemented are implemented.

"This includes making sure there is adequate signage and that the websites of our airlines are updated to remind passengers about the ban.

"The designated smoking area for passengers will be the terminal forecourt, while staff will have separate designated outdoor smoking areas. There will be no smoking airside."

Braintree Council has also been actively preparing for the new rules. In January, the council introduced special bins near bus stops and taxi ranks in Halstead, Braintree and Witham town centres for people to deposit their used cigarette butts and chewing gum.

A council spokesman said: "The council was concerned the new law could lead to an increase in smoking in the street and installed the bins early so the public could get used to them."