No immediate plans have yet been tabled to ‘ban’ smokers in Fife from lighting up near play parks in the Kingdom, although Fife Council said it would consider such a move.
The news comes as neighbouring Dundee City Council prepares to discuss designating play areas in all of the city’s parks smoke free zones at a meeting next week, with many supporters suggesting Fife should follow suit.
The Dundee approach would see the local authority actively encourage adults not to smoke in playgrounds in a bid to reduce the “normality” of cigarettes in society.
‘No smoking’ signs are also likely to be put up in play parks to deter people from lighting up.
However, while a spokesperson for Fife Council confirmed the organisation was open to the idea, The Courier understands there are no current proposals to adopt a similar stance as yet.
Fife Council’s present position is that it “supports and endorses” the principles of Scotland’s Charter for a tobacco-free generation after a motion to that effect was passed last year.
That states every baby should be born free from the harmful effects of tobacco; children have a particular need for a smoke free environment; all children should play, learn and socialise in places that are free from tobacco; every child has the right to effective education that equips them to make informed, positive choices on tobacco and health; all young people should be protected from commercial interests which profit from recruiting new smokers; and any young person who smokes should be offered accessible support to help them to become tobacco free.
No formal measures to implement smoke free zones at playgrounds have been pursued.
Sheila Duffy, chief executive of anti-smoking group Ash Scotland, believes local authorities like Fife should look at the issue more closely.
“We know that it means that kids are less likely to take up smoking themselves when they grow up and I think that adults, whether smokers or non-smokers, have an ambition for the next generation not to get hooked on smoking,” she said.
“In outdoors smoke free spaces, generally there is enough movement air, there is enough space that the second hand smoke is not such an issue, but I think what it is about is recognising the rights of children’s health and creating spaces where they play and gather – predominantly children’s spaces.
“I would really like to see a debate within communities because there needs to be places for adult smokers to go, but there also needs to be recognition of a child’s right to health and to play and socialise in clearer spaces.”
