Smoking banned in children’s play areas
Ban introduced at 10 council areas
CHILDREN’S play areas in Hinckley have become smoke-free zones to protect youngsters who play there.
Signs are going up at all 10 Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Councilrun play areas, asking people not to smoke.
They will be supplied on request to any parish or town councils in the borough who wish to make their playgrounds smoke free.
The council’s executive committee approved a voluntary nonsmoking policy earlier this year, to discourage young people from smoking in later life.
The council’s health champion, Amanda Wright, initiated the policy.
She said: “I would ask that the adults accompanying children to play areas respect these voluntary smoking restrictions.
“The purpose of these signs is to not only attempt to limit children’s exposure to harmful smoke, but to help prevent children and young people from thinking that smoking is a societal norm.
“Hopefully in doing this, children will be discouraged from taking up smoking, adults accompanying them may be encouraged to quit and cigarette butt littering will be reduced.”
Cigarette butts are difficult for cleaners to pick up, especially in bark and sand play areas.
They can take up to 12 years to biodegrade, owing to the cellulose acetate polymer used to make the cigarette filters.
The colourful notices were designed by Natalie Cattell, 10, from Hinckley, after she won a design competition in the council’s Borough Bulletin.
She also won a prize pack from the film Sing, courtesy of Cineworld Hinckley.
Runners up in the sign competition Niamh Thompson and Jenny Lin, both 11, won family swimming passes courtesy of Hinckley Leisure Centre.