A VOLUNTARY smoking ban is set to be extended to town centre areas including Mandela Gardens and Centenary Square as part of the council’s plans to ‘de-normalise’ smoking.
The move is part of proposals to inspire a smoke-free generation and reduce smoking among 15-year-olds to just five per cent by the end of 2019.
Locke Park and Elsecar Park were the first parks to became smoke-free in January through a voluntary code. Another 24 parks will follow suit before Easter.
Following this, Diane Lee, the council’s head of public health, told a council body that work was underway to create smoke-free zones in the town centre, with the first phase being launched in July. However, it is voluntary and cannot be enforced, and will only go ahead if it is supported by the public.
Diane said in Barnsley, 10.7 per cent of 15-year-olds are current, regular smokers, which is higher than the rate in England.
Read more in this weeks Barnsley Chronicle
