No smoking plea at bus stations

No smoking plea at bus stations

5 November 2014

A NEWCASTLE man has appealed to public transport users to obey “no smoking” signs erected at two of the district’s bus stations.

Mr. Eddie Brannigan says he is concerned smokers are ignoring bye-laws banning smoking on the concourse at Downpatrick and Newcastle stations.

He has raised his concern with both Translink and Down Council and has appealed to people who smoke to respect the wishes of others and not smoke while waiting to catch a bus.

Mr. Brannigan said on more than one occasion he has had to push a pram with one of his young relatives away from people smoking at the stations.

“There are signs warning people not to smoke but there are a number of people who ignore them and carry on regardless. I have observed people breaking the law for a number of months now and feel it’s time the issue was addressed,” he continued.

A non-smoker himself, Mr. Brannigan said he has no issue with people who do smoke, provided they do not light up in areas where smoking is prohibited.

“I have reported my concerns to Translink staff in Downpatrick and Newcastle but the problem has not been addressed,” he claimed. “Last Thursday I pointed out two people to Translink staff who were smoking on the platform at the Downpatrick station but nothing was done.”

Mr. Brannigan said a Translink official said “there was nothing he could do” to stop people smoking while waiting for a bus and that the issue of enforcing the no smoking bye-laws was a matter for Down Council.

“I subsequently contacted the local authority and spoke with an enforcement officer about my concerns, but the council official could not tell me who was responsible for enforcing the no smoking bye-laws on Translink property,” he continued.

Mr. Brannigan said Translink staff in Newcastle informed him if they saw people smoking on the platform in the resort they would move them on and while welcoming this, he believes there is a need for the transport company to adopt a uniformed approach to deal with the issue.

A Translink spokeswoman said it is aware of ongoing incidents of “anti-social behaviour” at Downpatrick bus station, including smoking and is working hard to address the issue. 

“We are setting up a multi-agency team which includes representatives from the PSNI, Translink and local educational institutions and have invited Down Council’s smoking enforcement team to participate in this group,” she continued.

The spokeswoman added: “We would appeal to passengers who smoke to show consideration towards non-smokers and to smoke only in the designated smoking areas at our stations and depots.”