People in Greater Manchester are being asked where smoking should be banned ahead of plans to create a smokefree space by the end of this year. A new consultation has been launched, inviting residents, community groups and businesses to have their say on the plans to make some outdoor public spaces smokefree with the first to be created in Manchester city centre.
It comes as the city-region looks to follow in the footsteps of Melbourne and New York by banning smoking in outdoor spaces as part of global initiative. People smoking in the selected city centre sites would be asked to stub out their cigarette or leave the smokefree zone as part of the new pilot project.
But there are no plans to bring in by-laws or fines for people caught smoking, with an 'education-first' approach, offering smokers support to quit, favoured. Piccadilly Gardens, St Peter's Square and the area around Manchester Town Hall are all being considered as potential smokefree outdoor public spaces.
READ MORE: Smoking could be banned in these Manchester city centre areas later this year
Banning smoking around the Etihad Stadium has also been suggested. And developers behind Mayfield Park, the new 'green lung' of the city set to open later this year, are already in talks about becoming a smokefree space.
The new park near Piccadilly Station is currently the only public space under 'active consideration', Manchester councillors were told earlier this summer. However, the public consultation will invite people across Greater Manchester to say where in their local area they would most want to become smokefree.
Following the consultation, plans are set to be finalised in the autumn with the first new smokefree outdoor public space expected by the end of this year. Salford mayor Paul Dennett, who chairs the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) Board and is Greater Manchester's deputy mayor, said there are already plenty of outdoor smokefree spaces across the city-region.
He said: "The people of Greater Manchester now have the opportunity to have their say on our plans to introduce more smokefree spaces for everyone to enjoy. As it stands, places in Greater Manchester have some of the highest smoking rates in the country and this initiative is part of our important work to make smoking history, to improve the health and wellbeing of our population and prevent younger generations from ever starting smoking and getting hooked on a deadly addiction.
"We know that extending smokefree outdoor spaces already has significant support from local people. Consultations carried out in 2018 showed us that eight out of 10 people thought it was a good idea – with areas of most concern including children’s playgrounds, school entrances and outside public libraries and town halls."
The plans are supported by a $100,000 grant, worth £79,000, from the Partnership for Healthy Cities - an initiative of Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Health Organization and Vital Strategies - which will be used to create more smokefree spaces across the city-region and shift cultural and societal attitudes towards smoking. The first phase of the project will be delivered by Manchester council and NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care, on behalf of Greater Manchester ICP.
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Partnership for Healthy Cities director Ariella Rojhani said: "We applaud Greater Manchester for creating an opportunity for residents to help ensure the spaces they use every day will be smokefree. Through this work, Greater Manchester is building a legacy as a city-region that cares deeply about health and wellbeing, not just now but well into the future."
People can take part in the online survey by visiting www.makesmokinghistory.co.uk/get-involved/smokefree-spaces/ with those who complete the survey by September 11 entered into a prize draw to win a £100 Amazon voucher. Alternatively, people can go to one of these events in Manchester city centre:
- Thursday, September 1 from 11am to 5pm at St Peter’s Square
- Friday, September 2 from 11am to 5pm at Piccadilly Gardens
- Saturday, September 3 from 11am to 4pm at Exchange Square
- Sunday, September 4 from 11am to 4pm at Canal Street and Sackville Gardens
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