Smoke-free legislation comes into force at 6 am on Sunday (1 July 2007) and by now, most businesses in Huntingdonshire District Council’s area have received information from the council or a personal visit from a member of the Environmental Health team.

The council has appointed a smoke free implementation officer, a post funded by the Department of Health. The key role of this post, in line with government guidance, is to ensure premises within the district comply with the new smoke-free legislation. Although smoking in enclosed or substantially enclosed public places and vehicles will be an offence, it is seen that this post’s function will be to provide information, advice and support for businesses.
 
This role will also involve working with the local Primary Care Trust in a smoking cessation training programme for workplaces as well as making sure the requirements of the new legislation are enforced.

From 1 July 2007, there will be three main offences:
• Individuals who smoke in a smoke-free premise or vehicle
• Owners/managers who fail to display no-smoking signs
• Owners/managers who fail to prevent smoking in smoke-free premises/vehicles.

Fines range from £30 to £2,000 depending on the offence.

The council has contacted more than 2,300 businesses since the beginning of May and has visited over 800 to ensure that they have relevant guidance and information and have taken any appropriate action.. Many more businesses will be visited in coming weeks including pubs, clubs and restaurants as well as factories and industrial workshops.  

Councillor Deborah Reynolds, executive councillor for housing and public health said: “This legislation is welcomed by vast the majority of Huntingdonshire’s residents and visitors and will have a significant impact on the health of individuals. It is anticipated that nationally thousands of lives a year will be saved as result of this initiative. In years to come, people will be amazed that smoking was once permitted in enclosed workplaces and public places. "

The new legislation applies to all business premises and business vehicles -- and even to people who work from home if they have visits from customers and colleagues.  It also applies to tents and marquees, public toilets and communal areas open to members of the public such as stairwells, enclosed passageways and corridors in blocks of flats, and public toilets.  Taxis, private hire cars, trains and buses will be smoke-free. In addition, fleet vehicles, lorry cabs and vans if they are used to by more than one person in the course of paid or voluntary work, will have to be smoke free.

For further advice then please contact Julie Fitzsimons, Environmental Health Protection Officer on 01480 388592 or Oliver Langford on 01480 388582, or visit the Smoke Free England website using the link on the right (for free information and signs).

For CAMQUIT the NHS Stop Smoking Service telephone 01480 418693.