Six children’s play areas, including one in Penzance are to become the first in Cornwall to sign up to a voluntary code that discourages people from smoking in them.

The six play areas across Cornwall which will be covered by the smoke free code developed by the Smokefree Cornwall tobacco alliance and Cornwall Council are Roche Park, St Austell; Sandy Hill Park, St Austell; Coronation Park, Launceston; King George V Park, Four Lanes; Millpond Park, West Looe; Goldsithney Park, Penzance.

A survey conducted recently in the South West found that almost 60%* of those questioned said that smoking was a problem in their local play park, with 98% of those interviewed said that they would support a voluntary ban on smoking in the play parks themselves.

The code already has strong local backing and is supported by the local parish council’s and park groups to discourage people who persist in smoking in play areas. Special signage has been developed requesting that children be allowed to play smokefree.

Gareth Walsh from the Cornwall & Isles Scilly Stop Smoking Service, said: “Research shows that reducing child exposure to smoking decreases the uptake of smoking amongst young people in the long term. Children learn their behaviour from adults and so it’s essential that in our communities tobacco use is not seen as part of everyday life.

“For example, children who live with smokers are at least twice as likely to become smokers themselves. We’re piloting this across Cornwall to protect future generations from taking up the habit.”

Nationally, 12% of children aged 11-15 years old currently smoke ** with children smoking on average 37 cigarettes per week***.

Chairman of Cornwall Council, John Wood, said: “We’re committed to the role our parks play in helping Cornish resident’s live active, healthy lifestyles. We’re especially proud to be leading the way in Cornwall in discouraging smoking around children in our play areas, helping to reduce the number of young people who smoke and reduce litter in the park.”

Internationally, smoking in public housing play areas and parks is already banned in Spain, Hong Kong, Latvia, Singapore and in cities in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and California.