SHOPPING centre bosses are to turn a major town centre development into a smoke free zone. The Market Place is to become a fag-free area from June 1.

The decision came after a survey, carried out among shoppers, showed that 65 per cent were in favour of a no smoking policy.

Managers at the Market Place say they were also bombarded with letters in support of a total smoking ban after stories in the BEN. Dozens of Evening News readers also wrote directly to our Points of View page calling for a ban. The date was chosen because it is during the British Lung Foundation's national Breathe Easy Week.

But yesterday shoppers expressed surprise that smoking has NOT been banned in the adjoining council-run Market Hall, where there are food stalls.

Cllr Michael Kilcoyne, chairman of the council's contract services, who are responsible for the Market Hall, said: "The door is open to have discussions about the smoking policy in the Market Hall. There are a number of food stalls and no one would want there to be smoke around those. Being a smoker myself I'm sensitive to the wishes of people who don't. We must ensure that non-smokers are not affected but at the same time it's important not to turn smokers into social lepers. It's something we will need to discuss and adopt a sensible policy on. Whether banning it altogether is a good thing I'm not sure. It may end up with people standing outside doors with fags in their hands." Shoppers who insist on finishing their cigarettes will be "politely" asked to leave the Market Place shopping centre, returning when they have had their last drag.

Other shoppers who may not be aware of the ban but are happy to abide by it will be able to stub out their cigarettes in ashtrays.

Bins will also be changed in the shopping centre. Those with ashtrays on top will be positioned only at the Market Place's entrances.

Laurie Barton, promotion and marketing co-ordinator for Grosvenor Investments, who part-own the Market Place, said: "We hope this will not be a culture shock, but from the level of support this is a step the majority wanted us to take." A lease agreement means shoppers will still be able to light up in the designated smoking area of Morelli's Balcony Restaurant in the Market Place.

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