6:30pm Wednesday 4th July 2007
By Sally-Anne Johnson
A PART of the smoking ban which could see people who work from home having to put up no smoking' signs has been branded as "the nanny state gone mad" by a local politician.
The ban came into force on Sunday, and means that smokers can no longer light up in any enclosed public places.
But non-smoker Sandy Walkington, the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for St Albans, says the ban could even creep into people's homes.
He says his wife Francesca, who runs an architectural practice from their home, has received advice from the Federation of Small Businesses saying that home offices where more than one person works, should display a no smoking sign.
Sandy, who also uses the office, said: "I don't want to put up a No Smoking sign in my own house - it is a listed building and we are not required to put up signs saying no murder', or instructions not to commit any other crimes.
"My wife Francesca has one part-time employee based with her, and I work from home too. We use what used to be the dining room. It is our home. People aren't allowed to smoke - whether in the office or anywhere else. If anyone wants to, they go out into the garden. We tell them that and anyone coming into a house will ask before they light up.
"I hope the law enforcement authorities will have better things to do with their time than enforcing this silly rule."
St Albans Conservative MP Anne Main has also seized upon the smoking ban as a stick with which to beat the Labour Government. In a Parliamentary question she pressed for an answer as to whether large scout tents would need to put up no smoking signs as they were large enclosed structures being used by the public.
She said: "I am pleased I voted for this ban in Parliament and whilst fully supportive of the principles and aims of the ban I have some reservations about the implementation of it, such as the requirement on all public places and businesses to display no smoking signs.
"Also, I am worried that there appears to be a gathering momentum to even ban smoking in areas such as parks, which in my opinion is contrary to a sense of fairness to all citizens - smokers and non-smokers alike.
"The Government has assured me that they are committed to a review of the legislation. Any people who are having problems or have a view on its implementation should make me aware so that I can let the Government know about their concerns."
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