BABERGH OFFERS FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR SMOKE-FREE BUSINESSES “TO REMAIN GOOD NEIGHBOURS”

As the countdown to England becoming smoke-free approaches, Babergh District Council is contacting hundreds of businesses reminding them of their wider duties once the legislation takes effect.

In particular, Babergh is keen to ensure that there is not any increase in the levels of litter or noise as a result of workers or customers smoking outside premises. The Council outlines what businesses can do to avoid such problems – and what could happen to them if they don’t – in the first edition of its environmental protection newsletter Babergh EnviroCare.

According to James Buckingham, Babergh’s Principal Environmental Protection Officer, “whilst the recent focus has rightly been on informing organisations of their responsibilities in going smoke-free, Babergh is keen to ensure that one anti-social problem is not substituted for others”.

Businesses are reminded of their responsibilities to clean up cigarette butts both on their premises and in the street outside them, whilst pubs and clubs in particular are advised to check that they are not in breach of their licence conditions if they allow customers to take drinks outside and/or play music after certain times of the night.

To encourage businesses to address the potential issue of littering, Babergh is offering special discounts of between £17 and £20 on the cost of one dedicated cigarette bin for each business.

According to James Buckingham “we hope such a subsidy will be an incentive for such organisations to remain good neighbours with those around them”.

More information about Smoke Free regulations.