Smoke free policy set to help staff and residents

The number of smokers in Oldham is on the rise, research reveals

It means that all Oldham Council and Unity Partnership staff will be prohibited from smoking on all work sites including areas around offices, parks and in our vehicles. Signage will be placed around all sites.

Residents and visitors are also urged to respect the policy and refrain from smoking in smoke free areas.

This aims to protect others from the harms of second-hand smoke; discourage young people from starting to smoke; and offer support for people thinking about stopping smoking

Staff are also being offered a wide range of support including free access to stop smoking services ahead of the introduction of the policy.

Cllr Zahid Chauhan, Oldham Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: “We’re extremely proud to become a smoke free local authority and send a clear message out about the dangers of smoking.

“Over the past few decades we’ve seen incredible progress in the battle against smoking and we are following many other public bodies in playing our small part to de-normalise it.”

Cllr Arooj Shah, Deputy Leader of Oldham Council, who is responsible for a range of public services including parks, added: “We want our public spaces to be attractive places that residents can go to that are not clouded by smoke and littered with cigarette butts.”

It’s also important that we make efforts to tackle the likelihood that children and young people will start smoking by reducing the visibility of smoking, particularly in areas like parks and play areas.”

For information on stop smoking services in Oldham, visit https://www.oldham.gov.uk/stop_smoking

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