Borough’s recreation areas to be no-cigarette zones if Islington Council’s executive rubber stamp the plan

Every playground in the borough is set to be smoke free.

If Islington Council’s ruling executive give the plan the nod on Thursday, smoking would be banned in all 147 park playground and estate play areas.

The moves follows a successful trial of the initiative in three sites last year.

Cllr Claudia Webbe, Islington Council’s executive member for environment and transport said: “Our pioneering pilot scheme has had incredible support from our residents. The huge majority of people agree that playgrounds should be smoke free.

“Making smoking less visible, including in our playgrounds, is an important part of stopping children and young people taking up smoking and protecting them from the effects of secondary smoke.

“We are now extending the smoke free scheme to all play areas in Islington and asking adults to do the responsible thing and avoid smoking in our parks where children and young people – who don’t have a choice about this - are playing.”

During the pilot, 94 per cent of 200 park users interviewed were in favour.

Free help and support to quit smoking is available here.