Caroline Pidgeon AM, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the recommendation today by the London Health Commission that Trafalgar Square, Parliament Square and 25,000 acres of parks in the capital should go smoke free, said:
“Huge changes have taken place in public attitudes towards smoking and it is important that this continues. It is now hard to even imagine that 30 years ago smoking was not only permitted on London Underground trains but was also routine in most offices.
“There may now be a case for certainly making Trafalgar Square smoke free, especially as it is such a busy and relatively confined space.
“However if you look at the exposure to smoking faced by children the top priority above all else must be tackling smoking at bus shelters.
“No child should have to stand at a bus stop on the way to school and be forced to inhale cigarette smoke, yet this is the reality for hundreds of thousands of children every day.
“Every bus shelter and bus stop in London should be completely smoke free and the ban of smoking should be fully enforced.”