Landlords are fuming at ban (From Swindon Advertiser)

Landlords are fuming at ban

7:52pm Sunday 24th June 2007

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MANY pub landlords are opposed to the forthcoming smoking ban.

With just days left before it is introduced on July 1, many fear it will cut trade.

Landlord Michael Westmoreland, of The Three Tuns, in Devizes Road, in Wroughton, said: "I'm totally against the ban. It's taking the freedom of choice away from people.

"Most of my customers are smokers so this could really affect the business.

"I agree with the ban for pubs that serve food, but ours is drinking only so shouldn't people be able to drink, smoke and socialise?"

The 62-year-old added: "When the ban comes in we will set up a smoking shelter in the beer garden for people to use."

David Howells, 54, is the manager of The Boundary House, in The Street in Moredon. He said: "I have just done a straw poll and it showed 98 per cent of my customers are smokers.

"I don't care what people say, it will affect business, there's no doubt about it.

"We do have a beer garden here but it's those winter months when we'll be worst affected."

Non-smoking landlord Robert Feal-Martinez is campaigning to get the terms of the smoking ban changed.

Mr Feal-Martinez, the licensee at the Carpenters Arms, in South Marston, spearheads Freedom To Choose, which is seeking a judicial review on the ban.

The group is urging the Government to bring in a regulated indoor air quality standard which would ensure the atmosphere was clear of toxins, and allow smoking to continue.

Mr Feal-Martinez has researched the subject and says with modern filtration and ventilation systems there is no danger from second-hand smoke.

He fears that up to 5,000 pubs may close because of a drop in revenue after the ban comes in.

He said: "Freedom To Choose is not pro-smoking, it's pro-choice. If the Government really thought there was an epidemic going on it would ban tobacco altogether.

"If I thought that somebody smoking was injuring somebody else around them I'd be the first to ban it. The whole thing is just social engineering."

Derek Rowlands, 56, is the landlord of The White Hart in Oxford Road in Stratton. He said: "I don't think it will affect us - in fact I think we will benefit from it. People will be more inclined to bring children to our restaurant, as it is smoke-free.

"But I can see it affecting pubs which don't sell food."

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