Children in Witney can enjoy playgrounds without the risk of second-hand smoke as Oxfordshire County Council and Witney Town Council install signage with the hope of creating more smoke-free environments around the town.
Witney Town Council hosted a competition for local children to come up with designs for the signage. Winners were decided and the drawings were used for the main image on each of the signs, which are now being installed in 10 playparks in Witney.
Councillor, Dr Ruth Smith, Leader of Witney Town Council said:
“We were delighted with the winning designs – the children really grasped the message. Congratulations Ayzel, Harry Ivy, Rosie, Scarlett, Theodore and Tommy.”
Research has found that children are four times more likely to start smoking if their parents smoke. A recent survey found that 90% of local Oxfordshire smokers agreed with the idea of creating smoke-free parks to help de-normalise smoking around children and reduce the chance of them taking it up later in life.
Councillor Smith continued:
“As vaping increases in popularity, we agree that the time is right to remind everyone that smoking and vaping where people are trying to enjoy the outdoors is not on. We hope this is a healthy message and a healthy measure for children.”
Councillor Michael O’Connor, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Equalities, said:
“Our ambition is for Oxfordshire to be a smoke-free county, which means less than five per cent of the population smoke. One of the main pillars of our Tobacco Control Strategy, which will help us to achieve this aim, is Creating Smoke-free Environments.
As well as helping to de-normalise smoking around children, creating these smoke-free environments will help to reduce the risk of exposure to second-hand smoke.
Town and parish councils are well-placed to support us in promoting smoke-free environments in our local communities. That is why we are delighted to be able to work with Witney Town Council on this project.”
The signage has been funded by Oxfordshire County Council’s Smoke-free Community Fund, a fund in which voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations can apply for up to £1000 to create smoke-free spaces or hold a smoke-free event. More information and application details can be found at www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/smokefreeoxon
Oxfordshire residents can receive free support to stop smoking using the Local Stop Smoking Service, Stop for Life Oxon. More information can be found at Stop for Life Oxon’s website (www.stopforlifeoxon.org), by calling 0800 122 3790 or texting STOPOXON to 60777.
