Smoking will be banned in a park in Pontypridd, after a local Dad complained about adults smoking on the park benches.Nick Powell, a community councillor and father of three-year-old Ellie, was shocked by how many parents and carers smoked within the children's outdoor play area. Unfortunately, last year, when he first asked the council to extend the smoking ban to the playground, he was told that the ban only applied to enclosed places.
But this year, when 'No Smoking' signs were put up near the paddling pool and outside the park cafe, he wrote to the council again.
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The council, told him that the outdoor signs are merely'polite notices' and smoking is not illegal in these areas, but they agreed to erect the same 'polite notices' in the play area.
It is thought that the playground ban is one of the first in Wales. However, despite the new anti-smoking laws only applying to enclosed and partially-enclosed public areas, some organisations have opted to go further. Many sports stadiums, airports and railway stations have banned smoking anywhere on their property, inside or out.
Mr Powell feels strongly that seeing adults smoking will have a negative effect on children. He said 'I'm not anti-smoking but it shouldn't be allowed in a children's play area - you wouldn't do it in a playground in school, so why here?'
August 2008
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