No butts as new cigs law kicks in

9:39pm Monday 2nd July 2007

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By Nafeesa Shan »

TRADERS in East Lancashire have proved they are clued up as the new smoking ban comes into effect across the UK.

More than 70 per cent of premises are displaying the correct no smoking signs and smoking enforcement officers have met little resistance from shop-keepers and businesses, in the first sweep of checks by council officers.

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But council bosses said the crunch would come later this week when the officers extended their inspections to include late-night hostelries and clubs.

Licensees nationwide have been anxiously awaiting the outcome of the controversial ban - and how it will hit trade.

Licensing officers in Blackburn made pre-liminary visits to bars on Saturday, before the ban came into effect, and found few no-smoking signs.

But publicans, while perhaps having their own misgivings about the crackdown, promised to abide by the law, which came into effect at 6am Sunday.

Yesterday officers were out in East Lancashire town centres to check the new regulations were being adhered to.

Enforcement staff, who say education will be their watchword in the coming weeks, are handing out the approved signs to smaller, family traders, to ensure they comply.

John Wilding, of outfitters Gray's, Penny Street, Blackburn, said: "There has never usually been a problem in stores like ours - but then again I don't want to end up paying more than 2,000 in fines.

"It must be a problem for pubs, where people will want to smoke, but then again if I am in a restaurant then the last thing I want to do is have someone at the next table to me smoking away."

Town centre pubs such as the Postal Order and The Adelphi, were visited, and found to be acknowledging the ban.

Like most pubs without beer gardens, The Adelphi's smokers were gathering outside the pub doors for their nicotine fix.

Other bars, such as Cafe Styllo, Northgate, have taken advantage of pavement cafes to offer a fresh-air alternative to smokers.

Pubs with beer gardens or spare land have been applying to the council for smoking shelters, to circumvent the ban.

While seven out of 10 stores are adhering to the new rules, a further 20 per cent were found to have some form of no-smoking warnings and another 10 per cent say they have made arrangements to be compliant in the very near future.

The ban has put a stop on smoking in enclosed public spaces including pubs, clubs and shopping centres.

Anyone who is caught flouting the ban will be handed an on the spot 50 fixed penalty notice and business owners or managers who fail to prevent a someone from smoking in their premises can be prosecuted and fined up to 2,500.