The national smoking ban in public places comes into effect this summer. Reporter Luke Farrington finds out how York is preparing for the change.

FROM July 1, 2007, smoking will be pushed underground - well, outside to be more precise.

In preparation for the national smoking ban, some pubs in the York area have already introduced their own no-smoking policies, while those which can spare the money and have the space have begun trying to build smoking shelters outside.

Reports from Scotland, where a smoking ban is already in place, suggest business owners here need to make accommodating smokers a top priority.

Five bingo halls north of the border have already closed as a result of the smoking ban, and half of the 86 bingo halls that remain are also thought to be in danger of closure.

As reported in The Press last week, the Mecca bingo hall, in Fishergate, York, is dealing with the problem by applying for planning permission to site a smoking shelter at the front of the building.

Other local businesses are taking the same approach, although there is a price to pay, with some local businesses being quoted up to £4,000 for a shelter.

The White Pavilion Company, which installs shelters, has issued a further warning to landlords.

Tim Burdekin, managing director said: "Landlords need to be careful. Any outdoor smoking shelter which is attached to the ground does need planning permission. Some people have already had their smoking shelters taken down because they didn't have permission."

The Department for Communities and Local Government has warned that the average time for deciding a planning application can be from 12 to 16 weeks, meaning some licensees face a race against time to be ready for July 1.

The lack of published guidelines is also causing problems.

Although it's not affecting planning applications for shelters, it is not clear yet whether there will be stipulations on how far from a public place the shelters will have to be.

Pubs which put up shelters now could face the possibility that they will unuseable when the guidelines are published.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: "Guidance will be published for businesses around the implementation of smoke-free legislation in plenty of time before the new law comes into force."

It remains to be seen how pubs and clubs unable to provide outdoor accommodation for smokers will cope, with both space and cost a significant problem for some of them.

But despite the concerns, some businesses are reporting that smoking bans can actually be beneficial.

The Best Western Monkbar Hotel, in Monkgate, York, which introduced its own smoking ban last year, said it had been a resounding success.

Hotel director June Nelsey said: "Our experience has been very positive. This can only serve to reassure those hoteliers - as well as owners of restaurants, cafés and shopping centres - who are anxious of what impact it may have on their business."

Peter Brownsword, of Nexus nightclub, in George Hudson Street, York, said he had been on a fact-finding mission to Edinburgh to find out how clubs were dealing with the ban there.

"We spoke to a lot of people and didn't hear anything negative about the ban at all," he said. "We are now working on our own plans for when the law comes into effect here in July."


What do people working in York's pubs and clubs think about the smoking ban?

Aaron Mellers, 28, a barman at the Best Western Monkbar Hotel, in Monkgate, York, said: "The difference since we brought in the smoking ban in our pub is huge. The atmosphere is different. It means I can finish a shift and go home not smelling of smoke. The ban also pushes people in the right direction who want to quit - they have to go outside to smoke now. I think it will help people."

Jim Hardy, the landlord of the Bluebell Inn, in Fossgate, York, said: "I think it's a bit on an infringement of peoples' rights. We have no outdoor facilities here, so people who drink here will just have to stand in the street. We've been campaigning for the pedestrianisation of Fossgate, so that would help. Having said that, the smoky atmosphere in here has turned people off coming in here, so it may end up working for us in the long run."

Gareth Vickers, the manager of the Keystones pub, in Monkgate, York, said: "The ban is a good thing. I live above the pub and all my clothes smell of smoke all the time. We have already put up some sheltering for smokers and the plan is to put more sheltering up. It's also good because it encourages people to give up smoking. The problem is for pubs with no outdoor area. I've been to Scotland and, up there, people just have to stand in the street."

Paul Gardner, director of Ginger Taverns, said: "Pubs with no garden area are really going to suffer. They will see a massive drop in trade. You are going to get problems with people complaining about noise, though. Also, it's a problem for young women on their own. Women won't feel safe going out into the street on their own.

The smoking ban has been a big part of the restructuring at our pub, YO1. We are about to close for a massive refurbishment, during which we are going to create a huge patio area outside for smokers."