Bristol’s work to reduce smoking recognised with award

Bristol City Council has won the CLeaR Leadership award for its continued efforts to reduce smoking and tackle tobacco in the area.

The council was recognised for its strong partnership working via its smokefree alliance, and its ambitious plans to rollout smokefree play parks and children’s centres across the city. The council’s anti-smoking campaigns and support for local stop smoking services, where smokers stand the best chance of quitting, were also commended.

Bristol City Council received the award from the CLeaR partnership, which works with local authorities across England to support progress in reducing smoking. The CLeaR partnership is comprised of Public Health England (PHE), Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and Cancer Research UK.

The award was presented at a ceremony at the Local Government Association Conference in London by MP Bob Blackman and Martin Dockrell, Head of Tobacco Control Programme at PHE, who commended the council on their approach.

George Ferguson, Mayor of Bristol, said: “I’m delighted that Bristol has been recognised for the good work that’s taking place to reduce smoking in our city. We’ve made some great headway in recent years through strong partnership working and engaging local campaigns to reduce the severe harm to individuals, as well as reducing the cost to the health service and economy caused by tobacco. The approach is working and we’re determined to build on our success to encourage yet more people to quit.”

Martin Dockrell, Head of Tobacco Control Programme at PHE said: “Local tobacco control is vital to reduce the number of people becoming ill and dying because they smoke. Bristol’s work shows how local leadership and innovation can help us make significant strides towards our shared national ambition of a smokefree generation.”

Alison Cox, Director of Cancer Prevention at Cancer Research UK said: “Bristol’s impressive record on this crucial public health issue is to be applauded. Smoking is the largest cause of premature deaths in the UK and remains the public health challenge of our generation. With the determination and commitment of councils like Bristol we will safeguard the progress made to date and can look forward to a future free from the harms of smoking.”