LGA: extend smoking and vaping ban to all children’s playgrounds in England

The Local Government Association (LGA) is asking the Government to extend proposed smoking and vaping bans to cover all children’s playgrounds to protect children from harmful tobacco and vape exposure.

In its response to the Government’s consultation on smoke and vape-free places in England, the LGA said it supports plans to expand smokefree, heated-tobacco free and vape-free outdoor spaces in children’s playgrounds, health and social care, and education settings across England.

However, it warned the proposals exclude publicly accessible playgrounds that are not managed by local authorities, creating gaps in protection that could expose children to smoking and vaping.

There are a growing number of play areas constructed as part of new housing developments, not formally adopted by councils, as well as those in national parks, country parks, amusement parks, and privately owned leisure settings – all outside of local authority control.

The LGA is also calling for mandatory minimum standards for signage, guidance on the siting of designated smoking and vaping areas (to minimise concentrated exposure at entrances and boundaries) and an extension of the vaping exemption to include all commissioned smoking cessation services.

Dr Wendy Taylor MBE, Chair of the LGA’s Health and Wellbeing Committee, said: “No child should be exposed to second-hand smoke or vapour clouds in public spaces designed for their health, education, and play.”