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Smoking ban: is it time for a change?
THE campaign to allow smokers the right to light up in pubs and clubs has gathered momentum in the town after supporters of the plan contacted the Free Press in their droves.
Bridlington MP Greg Knight recently launched a campaign alongside celebrity chef Anthony Worrall-Thompson to get the smoking ban lifted and help struggling businesses affected by the downturn in custom.
Mr Knight was in London recently to start the Save Our Pubs And Clubs – Amend The Smoking Ban campaign and it was supported by MPs and MEPs from all parties.
And following last week's story in the Free Press, locals put their views forward on the proposed plan.
One person strongly in favour of overturning the Government's stance on smoking is Elaine Gilbert, who has been running The Steps cafe in Promenade for nearly 20 years.
She said her business had not been greatly harmed by a lack of customers but said she wanted to see everyone get equal rights on the issue.
"We've not had a dramatic loss in trade but my problem is not with that anyway. It is time the human rights of all citizens were recognised.
"Smokers do not wish to upset non-smokers in any way but they have rights too."
She said the ban, while taking some customers away from her cafe, also posed problems for holidaymakers.
"We get a lot of coaches coming to Bridlington with elderly ladies on them. When they started smoking it was a fashionable thing but now they have to stand outside and it's not nice for them.
"People have rights and for some of those women, who are 70 or 75 years old, to be standing huddled in doorways is not comfortable, not safe and it's cold on Bridlington's streets."
"We had a smoking section and a non-smoking section in the cafe but then the government comes along and says you can't smoke. People should have a choice."
Amanda Nixon, landlady at The Station Pub in Hilderthorpe Road, said the smoking ban had damaged the industry.
She said: "It's really killed the atmosphere. People can't get into a conversation anymore because they have to go outside for a cigarette.
"It's penalising non-smokers as well. There is someone who comes in here who doesn't smoke but his wife does and when she has to go outside he is left on his own at the bar."
Amanda, who has been running the pub for two years, said the ban had also made life difficult for her step-father.
"He's 84, loves a pint and a cigarette but is now a prisoner in his own home because he can't walk very far and shouldn't be made to stand outside."
Roy Simpson, who runs the Yorkshire Belle pleasure cruiser with Peter Richardson, said although a non-smoker himself he backed a bid to bring back smoking indoors.
He said: " I wrote a letter to the Home Secretary when the ban came in and asked why they couldn't introduce a room for smokers with an extractor fan and one for non-smokers, but they said it wouldn't work.
"When we do welding work on the boat, we use pipes to take the smoke away. There's a lot more of it and it's fine.
"The ban is killing an institution and old people shouldn't be made to stand outside in the freezing cold.
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Smoking Should Be Made Illegal Read Free Press columnist Paper Clip's views
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People should be given the choice.”
Peter Corbett, who runs the Edelweiss guest house in Windsor Crescent said he was also in favour of scrapping the ban.
“A lot of people who smoke don’t go out anymore. The majority of visitors that come to Bridlington smoke.
“Pubs are shutting down and we need to stop the ban on smoking.
“We are non-smoking here but we have an area for those who want to smoke. We’re doing this to support our local pub The Station.”
He said cigarettes left behind by smokers outside also caused a problem.
“When people have finished they drop the butt on the floor, which gives the council more work to clean them up, but kids and toddlers are also coming along and picking them up.”
Former mayor Coun Liam Dealtry has also thrown his support behind the MP’s campaign, adding he hoped it could help save local jobs.
He said: “It looks like common sense is prevailing and Greg Knight is trying to get the smoking ban amended so we can save our pubs and save many people being made unemployed.”
Texts sent to the Free Press include one which likens the smoking ban to being at school. It says: “As a smoker I no longer visit local pubs as I find having to stand outside like some naughty schoolboy very discriminating.”
Another person texted in to argue the ban takes away people’s freedom, saying: “Well done Mr Knight, you are looking after the Englishman and woman’s rights.
“Our grandparents and parents fought two wars for us to be free in our country but we are not.”
And another text calls for justice and reads: “Us smokers are fed up of being treated like criminals as we can’t smoke in pubs although they can smoke in prison. Where is the justice?”
Lots of comments have also been posted on the Free Press website at www.bridlingtonfreepress.co.uk
l Read Paper Clip’s views on page 8
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Weather for Bridlington
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -4 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South
