Buses get on board with smokefree Wokingham message
Buses are just the ticket for the smokefree message after Wokingham Borough Council unveiled new advertising to make people aware of the smokefree legislation.
Buses travelling through the Wokingham borough are now carrying the message that the Wokingham borough went smokefree from July 1. The council received £71,000 from the government to promote the new legislation that came into effect on Sunday (July 1).
And on Friday June 29, the council’s executive member for community safety Cllr Barrie Patman got a close-up on the message when one of the buses made a special stop at Shute End.
Cllr Patman said: “A great deal of work has already been carried out with businesses in the borough to make sure they are aware of the new legislation, what it means for them and how they should prepare for it.
“With the legislation now in place, this new advertising, (entirely funded through government money), will make sure people in the Wokingham borough are aware. Backing the national campaign, I really hope that people will take notice of the advertising and help the transition to the new legislation go as smoothly as possible.”
The legislation came into effect on Sunday July 1 and virtually all enclosed and substantially enclosed public places and workplaces in England are now smokefree. This includes offices, factories, shops, pubs, bars, restaurants, membership clubs, public transport and work vehicles that are used by more than one person.
The law also means that indoor workplace smoking rooms will disappear, so anyone wishing to smoke now has to go outside instead.
Essentially, the legislation allows for almost all workers, regardless of their place of work, to be protected against the risks to health caused by exposure to tobacco smoke and guaranteed the right to smoke-free air.
In the Wokingham borough, council officers have been working to make sure all affected premises know what the legislation means for them. A successful series of business seminars was held in March with neighbouring authorities Reading Borough and West Berkshire Councils, including issuing an information sheet to some 4,000 businesses. Detailed information is available on the council website at: www.wokingham.gov.uk and staff have been visiting premises to inform them of the legislation and explain what it means. Taxi drivers have also received information specific to them.
Buses travelling through the Wokingham borough are now carrying the message that the Wokingham borough went smokefree from July 1. The council received £71,000 from the government to promote the new legislation that came into effect on Sunday (July 1).
And on Friday June 29, the council’s executive member for community safety Cllr Barrie Patman got a close-up on the message when one of the buses made a special stop at Shute End.
Cllr Patman said: “A great deal of work has already been carried out with businesses in the borough to make sure they are aware of the new legislation, what it means for them and how they should prepare for it.
“With the legislation now in place, this new advertising, (entirely funded through government money), will make sure people in the Wokingham borough are aware. Backing the national campaign, I really hope that people will take notice of the advertising and help the transition to the new legislation go as smoothly as possible.”
The legislation came into effect on Sunday July 1 and virtually all enclosed and substantially enclosed public places and workplaces in England are now smokefree. This includes offices, factories, shops, pubs, bars, restaurants, membership clubs, public transport and work vehicles that are used by more than one person.
The law also means that indoor workplace smoking rooms will disappear, so anyone wishing to smoke now has to go outside instead.
Essentially, the legislation allows for almost all workers, regardless of their place of work, to be protected against the risks to health caused by exposure to tobacco smoke and guaranteed the right to smoke-free air.
In the Wokingham borough, council officers have been working to make sure all affected premises know what the legislation means for them. A successful series of business seminars was held in March with neighbouring authorities Reading Borough and West Berkshire Councils, including issuing an information sheet to some 4,000 businesses. Detailed information is available on the council website at: www.wokingham.gov.uk and staff have been visiting premises to inform them of the legislation and explain what it means. Taxi drivers have also received information specific to them.
Wokingham Borough Council
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