Planners must be ready for smoke ban says BISL

Business In Sport and Leisure has welcomed the Government's decision to publish the draft smoke ban guidance but issued a warning about the timescale for the ban.

The group is concerned that although the regulations for what constitutes a smoke shelter could be agreed by October, local authority planning departments may not be able to act quick enough to allow pubs to build shelters before the ban kicks in.

It is now urging the Department for Communities and Local Government to provide guidance for local planning authorities to ensure that there are no unnecessary delays in the granting of planning permission for outside areas.

We now urge the Government to work across departments to ensure that implementation of a smoking ban occurs as smoothly as possible ​ Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of Business In Sport and Leisure.

Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of Business In Sport and Leisure said: "I am delighted that the Department of Health has published these draft regulations before the Health Bill has completed its parliamentary progress and we welcome the opportunity to respond to the consultation. ​

"However, we now urge the Government to work across departments to ensure that implementation of a smoking ban occurs as smoothly as possible.

"The consultation period for these regulations only ends in October which could mean as little as 6 months after the final version is published before the ban comes into effect.

"It is imperative that Department for Communities and Local Government publish guidance urgently to assist local authority planning officers in processing the relevant planning applications as quickly as possible.

"We are fully behind the implementation of the ban, but are concerned that the industry should be given enough chance to prepare properly."

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