MP wants smoking ban lifted
The Government will be asked to reconsider the smoking ban by one of Northampton's MPs.
The Conservative MP for Northampton South, Brian Binley, has been made vice-chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group.
The politician said he will use his position to lobby the Government to allow pubs to have separate rooms for smokers, rather than force them to go outside.
He said: "I think if pubs can prove they've got proper extraction fans or a room set aside for smokers, they should be allowed to operate in that way, not shove people outside in all weathers into these shanties and so-called smoking shelters.
"It's just crazy that people are being forced to stand outside and people who live near pubs are left complaining about the noise generated by them.
"So I'll be calling on the Government to ensure that if pubs have proper extraction systems or special smoking rooms, smoking should be allowed in those rooms.
"We need to do away with these awful lean-tos."
The smoking ban came into force in July 2007.
In the first few months of the ban, more than 60 pubs and clubs across Northampton were caught without no-smoking signs.
Officers found 61 pubs, restaurants and workplaces not displaying the right signs, and eight people were caught smoking in pubs between July and September 2007.
Fines for companies which fail to put up no-smoking signs range from 150 if paid within 15 days, to 1,000 if the case ends up in court.
Mr Binley said he would also push the Government to clampdown on supermarkets selling alcohol at very low prices.
He said: "When some supermarkets are selling beer at 54p a pint, you recognise just what pressure our pubs and clubs are under."
His stance has been welcomed by Jonathan Mail from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), who said: "The Save the Pub Group will undoubtedly play a key role in ensuring the coalition Government bring forward a package of policies to support well-run pubs."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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