Elsecar Park joins smoke free campaign

Elsecar Park, holder of a prestigious Green Flag Award for its excellent green spaces, will add to its visitor offer by giving young children to enjoy the fresh air, free of smoke.

It will proudly display brand new signs, designed by Barnsley’s own local school children, around its play area warning it is now a smoke free zone.

The owner of Elsecar Park’s onsite café, as well as Friends of Elsecar Park and park staff, have all welcomed the new scheme.

Coun Jim Andrews, cabinet spokesperson for public health, said: “Since the launch at Locke Park last month, we have received a great amount of support on social media, this is a fantastic way to reduce children to the exposure of second hand smoke.”

Park supervisor Jo Birch said: “The signs in place at Locke Park look great and we can’t wait to have more put up around all the other parks across the borough.

“I’m keen to ensure that these areas are kept smoke free to ensure all children visiting our parks can enjoy fresh, clean air whilst they have fun.

“Although we cannot enforce it, we can commit to supporting people who want to quit smoking, by putting up a small campaign in the on-site café”.

This scheme is part of ‘Breathe 2025’, Barnsley’s vision in which the next generation of children are born and raised in a borough free from tobacco and where smoking is rarely seen.

The ambition is for smoke free play parks in each of the six area councils with all 24 key play parks across the borough becoming smoke free.