Council marks No Smoking Day by signing national declaration
Politicians and senior staff at Telford & Wrekin Council are to mark National No Smoking Day by signing the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control.
The Declaration is an opportunity for local authorities to show their commitment to protecting local communities from the harm caused by smoking.
By signing the declaration, Telford and Wrekin will be joining with other local councils across England committing to co-ordinated action to cut smoking rates and tobacco use.
Councillor Richard Overton, cabinet member for Public Health and Public Protection, said: “We want to use this declaration to reinvigorate our actions and for every partner to join in reducing the harm from smoking with a vision of a future generation being smoke free.
“It is not just a matter of signing the declaration and carrying on as usual. We will assess ourselves and evaluate our local action on tobacco to ensure that local activity follows the latest evidence-based best practice.
“We will identify areas for further improvement and demonstrate that by prioritising local activity to tackle tobacco we are contributing to the health and wellbeing of the borough.”
One in two regular smokers is killed by tobacco, half die before the age of 70 and a quarter of life long smokers do not get to pick up their pension.
