Gerry Taylor

Having read you article last week about the soldier who was unfortunately killed while out on a family re-union, having just returned from Afghanistan, together with a recent incident when a teenager was killed outside a youth club and, some time ago, a nurse who was killed in the smoking area of a hospital, when they had left the venue to have a smoke or a bit of peace and quiet, as was the case of the nurse who, incidentally, did not smoke, the full extent of the smoking ban has to be questioned.

When the first non smoking areas came into pubs and clubs about 20 years ago I thought they were an extremely good idea, as they gave the non-smoker an area where they could keep in touch with their friends who were smokers without leaving the building.

As the years passed many pubs and clubs came up with some very ingenious ways of improving the mix for their smoking and non-smoking clients. The Savoy is a good local example with their smokers on the left, non-smokers on the right and non smoking area in front of the bar.

As I understand it, when the smoking ban was first considered, it was to be left to the licencees of non food pubs to decide if they wanted to be a smoking or a non-smoking venue, with clubs exempt to make their own decision.

The question I would now raise is the validity of this blanket ban.

We all know that there are areas that should be non-smoking by their use, shops, hospitals and the like, and good old common sense tells us that they should be non-smoking areas. That was the way I was brought up in the 60's!

My question is where do we stand with regard to the obligation of the employer or person in charge of a venue to take reasonable care of their employees, members or clients under the health and safety directives when they send these people out of their buildings or, in some cases, off the premises entirely, by the smoking ban laws, without supplying a safe place for these people to smoke?

I see that our new Government is talking about looking at some of the Laws which were passed by the last Government so, perhaps, this Law ought to be looked at again, to bring it in line with the 'Duty of Care' principles of the Health and Safety Rules, by ensuring that all employers and people in charge of venues should supply a place within their grounds and/or, if necessary, in their building for the smokers to indulge in their bad habit, that is until smoking becomes Illegal.

By doing this there would be the added advantage of the areas outside the grounds and buildings being a great deal tidier and not so much of an eye sore.

GERRY TAYLOR Newcastle Street Swindon