Archived press release

Date Published: 08/05/07

Businesses across Buckinghamshire are being encouraged to attend a smoke free road show to help them plan for England becoming smoke free. From 6am on Sunday 1 July 2007, smoking will not be permitted in virtually all enclosed public places and wo...

Businesses across Buckinghamshire are being encouraged to attend a smoke free road show to help them plan for England becoming smoke free. From 6am on Sunday 1 July 2007, smoking will not be permitted in virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces and it is vital businesses understand what they must do to comply with the legislation.

The road show seminars will provide practical guidance to help businesses get ready to go smokefree, as come 1 July, they will have a legal responsibility to prevent people from smoking in their premises and/or vehicles.

The guidance will cover:
 Signage – what the legal requirements are and where signs should be displayed.
 What is meant by enclosed and substantially enclosed places including guidance on outdoor shelters and planning permission.
 Exemptions.
 Penalties and non-compliance including what to do if someone is smoking on premises you are responsible for.
 Stop smoking support available to employees and clients.

The seminars are being led by the four district councils (Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern, South Bucks and Wycombe), which are responsible for implementing the legislation.

David Smedley, Head of Environmental Health and Licensing Services at Aylesbury Vale District Council, said “This is a significant piece of legislation that will bring many changes to businesses and we want to offer them as much information, advice and support as possible to help them with the transition come the beginning of July.

“There's plenty for businesses to think about, not least the secondary impacts of the ban such as increased littering and noise implications when people go outside to smoke.  Even those businesses which already have smoke-free policies will need to be aware of the legislation as they may also have to make changes such as replacing no smoking signs or outdoor smoking shelters with those that meet the requirements of the new law.”

For those people who want to use the new legislation as an opportunity to stop smoking, information will be available for the Buckinghamshire NHS Stop Smoking Service. They provide free support and advice to anyone who wants to stop smoking at over 40 locations across Buckinghamshire. Workplace clinics can also be set up where at least 12 employees or clients want to stop smoking.

“Around 70 per cent of smokers say they want to stop smoking, and the new smokefree law could provide extra motivation to do so” said Val Mills, Manager of Buckinghamshire NHS Stop Smoking Service.

“With support from our service alongside appropriate nicotine replacement therapy you are four times more likely to successfully quit than going it alone,” she said.

The road show seminars will be taking place on:
10 May  2.30 – 4.30  Aston Hall, Civic Centre, Aylesbury
12 June  9.00 – 11.00  Aston Hall, Civic Centre, Aylesbury

Places are limited. To book, call 0845 600 9 006 or email your name, business name, address and chosen date of attendance to events@businesslinksolutions.co.uk

On 17 May from 9.30am - 4.00pm a special conference for NHS employees, local authorities and business sector co-ordinating organisations will be held at Wycombe Wanderers FC, Woodlands Lounge, Adams Park, Hillbottom Road, High Wycombe.

To book a place on this conference contact Buckinghamshire PCT on 01494 606 653.