Park signs aim to keep Rotherham play areas smoke free

The Mayoress of Rotherham, Mrs Sandra Buckley (back row, left), the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Alan Buckley (back row, centre) and cabinet member for adult social care and public health, Cllr David Roche (back row, right) with the winning pupils.

The designs have been created in an effort to protect residents from the dangers of second-hand smoke and to help prevent youngsters from picking up a smoking habit.

Pupils from Maltby, Canklow and West Melton schools were invited to enter into a poster design competition as part of Rotherham Borough Council’s Smokefree Parks initiative to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking and encourage people to stop smoking tobacco and e-cigarettes in and arounds children's play areas.

The eight winning poster drawings, made into signs thanks to funding from borough councillors and are being installed during the school summer holidays.

The council’s cabinet member for public health, Cllr David Roche, said: “We want children to grow up in safe, secure neighbourhoods where they will thrive and develop.

“I welcome these poster signs to help reduce both active smoking and its role modelling in front of children.

“And, by championing designs made by children themselves, we are sending a strong message that we are serious about smoking cessation and prevention.

“We are all aware that smoking has been banned in public buildings since 2007 but people can still smoke in outdoor spaces where children play such as parks.

“Not only can this result in children inhaling other people’s smoke, but it can also increase the chances of children copying the habit.

“We want our children to breathe smoke-free air in all areas but especially our parks where they can go to keep and get healthy.”

Wards supporting the initiative include Sitwell, Wingfield, Valley, Holderness, Maltby, Rotherham West, Hoober, Boston Castle, and Silverwood Ward.

The competition winners from Crags Community School, Canklow Wood Primary School and West Melton Primary School.

Parents and teachers were invited to a celebration and awards event at Rotherham Town Hall, where the Mayor and Mayoress of Rotherham, Cllr Buckley and Mrs Sandra Buckley, presented the children with a framed copy of their designs to keep.

The Town Hall event was attended by parents, teachers, councillors and the council teams behind the initiative — public health, neighbourhoods and parks and green spaces.