ELDERLY residents in Miles Platting have been left out in the cold over their smoking habit.
They are being threatened with a fine for flouting the smoking ban by lighting up indoors at sheltered housing complex Butler Court.
Letters have been sent out to all residents - the youngest of whom is 60 - warning they will be prosecuted for antisocial behaviour if they smoke in the communal lounge.
Residents say they have been told to spend time in the day room rather than in their own rooms - where they can smoke - because of refurbishment work in the flats.
But they are angry as this now means they have to smoke outside in the cold.
Barbara Lingard, 82, who has lived at Butler Court for 35 years, thinks the situation is disgraceful.
She said: "We've been told not to stay in our flats and to come to the day room, but we're not allowed to smoke in here we have to go and stand out in the freezing cold.
"We just want a lapse on the restrictions until the building work has stopped, it's not asking much."
She and fellow resident Pat Burns, 60, both admit they lit cigarettes in defiance when they were visited by health and safety officers.
Pat said: "What used to be a busy communal room is now empty because people are either too scared to come down because of the letter or it is too cold to come outside.
"If they put something outside, some cover and an ashtray, then that would be something but they haven't. We are all elderly and we have nowhere to go. Something has to be done.
"Some people might think its just a cigarette but it's not. We have been smoking all our lives, we don't drink and we're not harming anyone."
The housing complex is run by Adactus Housing Association.
A spokesperson said: "The comfort and well-being of residents of Butler Court is of the utmost importance to us. It is fine for residents to stay in their homes during the work but respite facilities and communal areas are being provided for them to use if they prefer to. Although residents are, of course, free to smoke in their own homes, smoking is not permitted in these communal areas, in accordance with the law.
"As part of the redevelopment work and new build at Butler Court, there are plans to incorporate a permanent smoking shelter that complies with the law.
"Residents have received reminders that smoking in communal areas is against the law and could result in a fine, but our aim is to work with and help residents so that this does not happen."
Tweet
Showing comments 1 to 6 and replies | View All
mandy vincent (29/12/2007 at 00:05)
Pleased that the elderly are fighting back though.
What is a matter with the people his impose this spiteful ban to persecute smokers. It is disgraceful, I am ashamed of this Country and angry at the dictatorship going on.
For those who think this is mustard gas equivelant, please read these links.
There has been too much misinformation and propaganda,
http://www.smokersclubinc.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4772
Micheal Siegel a once upon a time Hero of the antis, instrumental in the bans,
The second major issue I see is the extent to which anti-smoking advocates will go to pursue smoking bans. While in the past, the focus has been on protecting nonsmokers in the workplace, including bars and restaurants, there are now movements afoot to ban smoking virtually everywhere - including all outdoors locations, streets, sidewalks, parks, and now in cars and perhaps even inside the private home. As a strong supporter of workplace smoking bans, I feel like I have just completed a marathon and everyone else has continued running. I thought the goal was to provide nonsmokers with a safe working environment. Now the goal seems to be to prevent every possible wisp of smoke from reaching a nonsmoker, even if it is only momentary. I think that the tobacco control movement needs desperately to define its ultimate goal.
The largest study ever done –
http://www.smokersclubinc.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4191
Secondhand Smoke Revisited!
Defending Legitimate Epidemiologic Research; Combatting Lysenko Pseudoscience
By James Enstrom
Epidemiologic Perspectives & Innovations 2007, 4:11 doi:10.1186/1742-5573-4-11
Abstract: This analysis presents a detailed defense of my epidemiologic research in the May 17, 2003 British Medical Journal that found no significant relationship between environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and tobacco-related mortality. In order to defend the honesty and scientific integrity of my research, I have identified and addressed in a detailed manner several unethical and erroneous attacks on this research. Specifically, I have demonstrated that this research is not "fatally flawed," that I have not made "inappropriate use" of the underlying database, and that my findings agree with other United States results on this relationship. My research suggests, contrary to popular claims, that there is not a causal relationship between ETS and mortality in the U.S. responsible for 50,000 excess annual deaths, but rather there is a weak and inconsistent relationship. The popular claims tend to damage the credibility of epidemiology.
Please stop treating people like lepers and scon class citizens, because fanatics say you should.
Belinda Cunnison (29/12/2007 at 08:47)
NoBanJan2 (29/12/2007 at 10:44)
Belinda Cunnison (29/12/2007 at 14:02)
tug wilson (29/12/2007 at 17:36)
Tameside Eye - http://tameside-eye.blogspot.com/ (02/01/2008 at 03:05)