Smokers finally banned (From This Is Cheshire)

Smokers finally banned

11:54am Sunday 29th July 2007 in

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THE smoking ban is finally in force in Middlewich more than two weeks after the rest of the country.

A blunder by Congleton Borough Council meant officers could not prosecute anyone found smoking in a public place because they had failed to put the necessary enforcements in place.

Following a meeting of councillors last Wednesday to decide on the new rules the ban is now operating throughout the borough. Despite fears that people might flout the rules and continue to smoke in public places, safe in the knowledge that they could not be fined, punters in Middlewich's pubs have abided by the rules.

Smoking Tracey Bettaney, the borough council's environmental health manager, said: "To be fair, we haven't had anything to suggest that people have been flouting the rules." In addition to enforcing the public smoking ban, the council have now increased the powers of their enforcement officers.

Under the new rules environmental health staff can now issue fines to people for dropping litter and allowing their dogs to foul the streets as well as for smoking in a public place. What do you think of the council's failure to enforce the ban? Let us know on our website middlewichguardian.co.uk