Smoke Free campaign to be launched

Millennium Place will be a Live Screen site meaning it will show action of events during this summer's games.

The Smokefree Alliance want to see spectators encouraged not to smoke while watching the events to encourage a family atmosphere.

Coventry City Council has now approved the proposal to develop a low cost, effective campaign that encourages visitors to keep Millennium Place smoke free during the summer.

Councillor Joe Clifford, Coventry City Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Chair of the Coventry Smokefree Alliance, welcomed the move.

He said: "It is important to stress that this is not a ban - as we have no power to ban people smoking outside - but we would like to build on the success last summer of Coventry's city centre beach which remained smoke free and was enjoyed by lots of young children.

"I would like thank people in anticipation of their support for the campaign which is asking people not to smoke in Millennium Place during the Olympic celebrations

"The Olympics is synonymous with health, fitness and sporting excellence - everything that smoking is not.

"Millennium Place, with its large TV screen, is going to be a focal point for the city's Olympic celebrations and we want to make it as attractive as we can to families and young children.

"In large crowds it is often difficult for young children to move away from people who are smoking and it is also very difficult for a child to challenge an adult who is smoking near them.

"But the effects of smoking can be devastating to smokers and their families which is why it is important that we have this campaign."

Smoking rates in Coventry are above the national average and smoking related diseases claim the lives of one in six Coventry residents.

Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable death in the city and is also the largest factor behind the life expectancy gap that exists between our poorest and most affluent communities.

Councillor Clifford added: "This campaign supporting a smoke free public space in the heart of the city centre during the Olympics sends out a high profile message.

"It shows that Coventry is committed to reducing smoking rates and is willing to do all it can to improve the health and well-being of its local residents."

John Forde, Acting Director of Public Health for NHS Coventry and Coventry City Council, supports the move.

He said: "Millennium Place is going to be a focal point for our Olympic celebrations and we expect that thousands of families and young children will congregate in the square to watch the action unfold on the Live Site screen.

"The Olympics offers us a unique opportunity to encourage young people to choose healthier, more active lifestyles.

"I fully support the Smokefree Alliance's proposal which would help local people enjoy this once in a lifetime experience in a completely smoke free environment."

The effectiveness of the campaign will be monitored and evaluated and a report will come back to Coventry City Council in January 2013.