'Let us smoke on platforms'

26 September 2007

LAWS banning smoking on train station platforms may be relaxed after a torrent of opposition.

Stressed-out commuters have bombarded the transport secretary Ruth Kelly with letters calling for a rethink on the laws, brought in on July 1.

They say that the station platforms are open-air, rather than enclosed spaces, and therefore should not be covered by the smoking ban.

In response, Ms Kelly has asked officials to come up with plans for limited smoking areas on platforms.

The move has the backing on former Health secretary John Reid, whose moderate approach to the ban was shelved in exchange for more radical measures when he lost his job in a cabinet reshuffle.

He said: "I have always favoured a degree of choice for adults and have always thought we have to be careful not to ban smoking everywhere outside the home."

However any chance of pushing for relaxation of the smoking rules for stations is likely to be opposed by Network Rail.

A spokesman for the rail operator said: "Our stance has not changed and we will continue to put the interests of all customers first."

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "Our private poll shows the majority of people would oppose any weakening of the ban."

Figures show that railway station cafes with outside tables have seen a slump in business since the smoking ban was introduced in public places in July.

Campaign group Keep Britain Tidy said that there has been a 43 per cent rise in the amount of cigarette butts dropped on Britain's pavements since the smoking ban came into force. According to the organisation, smoking litter makes up 40 per cent of the rubbish on the streets and costs £200 million a year to clear up.

Bromley council have already installed a number of special smoking bins and are encouraging people to use them.

A council spokesman said: "We have noticed an increase in cigarette butts dropped on Bromley High Street. The new bins that we have installed are specially designed so that people can stub out their cigarettes and drop them into the hole. We thank the smokers that have already used the bins and would encourage those who don't always use them to do so. We would like to remind smokers that dropping cigarette butts is a littering offence and anyone doing so is liable for a fine in the same way.