Smokers in Tonbridge could soon face ban in public parks

Smoking could be banned in every public park and sports ground in the Tonbridge area.
The Kent Alliance on Smoking and Health wants councils across Kent to stop people from lighting up at venues which are aimed at children and families.
It means people found smoking at Tonbridge Farm, Tonbridge Racecourse and the neighbouring Haysden Country Park could face on-the-spot fines, and court, for flouting the rules.
The document was backed by Kent County Council this week and Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council said it was "carefully considering" the Kent Tobacco Control Strategy - which aims to have a smoke-free county by 2014.
Borough council chief executive David Hughes said: "We are very conscious of the need to protect people, especially children, from the harmful effects of smoking."
"We will therefore give careful consideration to all elements of the recently produced report."
Other public areas which would come under the proposed new rules include the recreation ground in Hildenborough and the Swanmead and Frog Bridge sports grounds in Tonbridge.
The prospect of a ban has angered some local people.
Andy Young, who organises the annual Tonbridge Kite Festival on the sports ground, believed the rule would be unenforceable.
He said: "If they bring in a smoking ban, who's going to enforce it? As organiser I'm not going to walk around telling people not to smoke. I don't think it will work because they won't be able to enforce it."
Matthew Meads, landlord of The Flying Dutchman pub in Hildenborough, echoed the sentiments, saying: "If they're going to ban smoking in parks then they'll have to ban it in all public places.
"If they think you're going to blow smoke over someone in a park then what's the difference in the high street?"
The borough council's stance is in line with its pioneering of the Smokefree Homes Award system, introduced in January 2009, in which holders pledge to keep homes and cars free of smoke at all times.

Source: thisiskent, 16 July 2010