Smoke ban supporters unmoved by SOS offer

SUPPORT Our Smokers is offering to ask people to stub out at this evening's public meeting in response to refusals by some to attend. It is aiming to get a last-minute reprieve on the ban on smoking in enclosed public places ' the law goes back to the States for ratification at the end of this month.

The meeting at Les Rocquettes Hotel has met with a frosty response from some, with director of public heath Dr David Jeffs and Deputy Charles Parkinson saying they will not go because of health concerns.

'I asked for an assurance it would be non-smoking ' that's a slightly different response,' said Deputy Parkinson.

'The room they are holding it in is a smoking area. As far as the hotel is concerned, visitors in that area have a right to smoke.

'My fear is you're going to have 100 committed smokers in this room who are going to smoke almost to make a point. If you go up and ask it to be non-smoking, you're inviting yourself to be pilloried.'

He expressed total support for the smoking ban, but would have been prepared to listen in the right circumstances.

An SOS spokesman stressed that the room was chosen because it had excellent ventilation.

'If Dr Jeffs, Deputy Parkinson and Gasp do turn up, as a favour to them we will ask the meeting to not smoke out of consideration for their views.'

The group is urging everyone to attend whatever their view and has expressed further concerns about policing the ban.

Dr Jeffs said the prospect of being in a room full of smokers did not appeal because of health and personal reasons, but the compromise made it a 'possibility' he would attend.

'The whole thrust of the debate is on the health effects of smoking,' he said.

'The more the evidence comes out, the more it becomes clear that it is bad for smokers and those exposed to their smoke.'

Exemptions to the ban are being investigated, including prisons and hotel bedrooms.

'If I could stay away from a smoky atmosphere, I would.'

Gasp is refusing to attend because of strong objections to pro-smoking lobby group Forest, which argues the ban is not representative of developments in Europe.

Forest also argues that a ban is not based on clear scientific evidence.

Gasp chairman Alun Williams is in Scotland today.

'I would probably have gone in a personal capacity, but it would be inappropriate to go as a Gasp representative simply because we disapprove of the methods used by Forest and would not want to share a platform with them,' said Mr Williams.

He added that it was inappropriate for Forest to be involved in the debate locally and hit out at claims by SOS that the ban would encourage more young people to smoke out of rebellion.

The meeting features a talk by Forest director Simon Clark and starts at 7.30pm.

A public protest march, starting at 11am at the Town bus terminus and finishing at the Bridge, takes place on Sunday 25 September.