A declaration to move towards creating a smokefree society has been signed by the Isle of Wight Council. In signing the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control, the Council showed its commitment to protecting residents from the harm caused by smoking. Smoking remains the single leading cause of preventable ill-health and early death on the Isle of Wight. Up to 2 in 3 smokers will die as a result of smoking. The Declaration was signed by both the Council Leader Councillor Phil Jordan and Chief Executive Wendy Perera, as well as Councillor Debbie Andre, cabinet member for adult social care and public health, and Simon Bryant, director of public health. The agreement to sign the Declaration was approved by Cabinet on 14th March 2024. The Council, as the public health authority, leads local action to tackle smoking and youth vaping. This is achieved by;
- commissioning the community stop smoking service, Smokefree Island
- working together to reduce vaping providing information and support
- lead alongside key partners on the Island to stop people starting smoking and support smokers to quit
Simon Bryant said:
“Signing the Declaration will strengthen the council’s leadership role while working with local partners. Together we can achieve a smokefree 2030 and culture-change where smoking becomes history. “This Declaration is a clear signal that we will continue to prioritise smoking as a major public health issue. However, making smoking history can only be achieved by working in partnership with organisations and communities across the Island. “Although, the numbers of people smoking on the Island are in decline, there are still 11,000 smokers living here. There is more work to be done, especially for groups in highest need.”
Councillor Andre added:
“Signing the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control is a huge step. “The council is showing commitment to reducing smoking in our communities, alongside delivering the national target of being Smokefree by 2030. “For Islanders wanting to quit smoking, there is a wide range of support available. Getting expert support from your local stop smoking service means you’re three times as likely to quit for good.” For free expert advice on quitting smoking, contact Smokefree Island at (01983) 642369 or 0800 999 1396. Alternatively, text “Quit” to 66777” or visit https://smokefreeisland.co.uk/

























































































Ferry fares,Health/Dentist care,Drug use,Affordable homes and Bad driving far more important !!#Justsaying
Speeding on the Island is rife, there is NO Law and Order on the island
when it comes to speeding.
I can’t wait until the island introduces 20mph is plenty and time for the
ULEZ charge to be introduced on the island.
There are so many polluting vehicles polluting our lovely Island,
our childrens health is being put at risk.
I don’t want to upset your ideas of controlling everyone with a car but,,, The 20 mph limit in Wales has made not one jot of difference to pollution levels. Some towns are actually seeing an increase because the average vehicle is not set to run at such slow speeds, and the Catalytic converter doesn’t get warm enough to work correctly. I’m sure the research is out there for the numpties who actually think a blanket 20 mph limit can work here.
You clearly know nothing about 20mph speed limits and the purpose of ulez. 20 moh speed limits INCREASE pollution because everyone is driving around in 3rd gear and the ulez does nothing to reduce pollution but fill the coffers of the council. How can people be so thick?
Very true, Nige.
…More than one thing can be done at a time, you know, TH. Just sayin’.
What annoys me is I have never smoked in my life and my taxes are paying for this
I expect the tax taken from tobacco sales more than covers anything uv paid
Your tax will probably quadruple if this ever happens. And what right have they got to tell me what I can and can’t do!!!! Next it will be what time to eat meals and go to bed!!
Carry on paying for your taxes you good little boy
Here’s an idea. Why not get your own house in order before molly-coddling people in their own decisions.
the floating bridge is a joke, so many roads and footpaths are closed and the administration is a joke.
Children brought up with smoking parents have no say in their lungs being damaged and their own health scarred by this lethal habit. Not to mention the cost and resources it requires from the NHS.
Smoke free iow and drink driving mandatory
The island speciality is speeding, majority of motorists
Tailgate.
I blame Island roads, statistics show that many turn to the sweet nicotine hand of cigarettes, due to stress caused by Island roads
Get rid of the vapes whilst you’re at it. Pointless things!
Vapers are grown up babies who have given up their dummies
for Vapes.
You only need to look at Vapers, all are uneducated persons.
You’re talking bollocks
They do look pathetic though!
Vapers are uneducated morons who don’t realise the damage they are doing to their
Lungs.
Stupid B’stards
“You only need to look at Vapers, all are uneducated persons.”
That’s either one hell of a superpower, to be able to tell someone’s educational status merely by looking at individuals from a particular sub-section of society.
Or…..
This is a ridiculous, uneducated comment from a biased non/ex smoker.
Brilliant reply! I was going to reply to him but I couldn’t have said it better than you did.
Vapes are a great way to get started. Once you’ve built up the nicotine dependency you can easily make the switch to proper fags. People who vape are essentially amateur smokers.
Or people who have finally managed, after 37 years on 30 a day, to STOP smoking. Thereby saving themselves over £100 a week!
Can these amateurs doing anything useful for the island !! Tobacco control !! God help us .. Will Jerk Jordan get behind alcohol control as well .. fix the bigger problems for the island first .. not these token vote winners .. fix the schools, lack of investment, poor transportation, extortionate parking fees, dodgy MP, weak councillors
So what actually does this mean? Is it a new legislation that means no one can smoke? Or is it just a load of expensive hot air?
I’d have thought that drug usage might’ve been a higher priority or alcohol dependency. Both of those cause family problems and dangers on the road and public places.
Will this include ‘stop the pot’?
Everywhere you go on the Island you can smell Cannabis
The island is a Drug Haven, this Council couldn’t Stop a Bus!
Fox urine smells exactly like cannabis.
Wtf, melted gummy bears smell like cannabis
Cannabis can now be legally prescribed as an alternative form medicine in the UK, sorry that you’re old and the world is moving on without you.
Smoke-Free Island? R U on Drugs?… Oh No, You’d need Tobacco to make Yer Blunts FFS!!
You Lot Ain’t Smoke-Free, so Clean Your Own Back Yards Up, First!! 😮
If they can’t or won’t put a stop to underage use of e-scooters, riding on the pavement, and two abreast, they’ve no chance with underage vaping.
They should sign a commitment to help the islands veterans,and not leave it all to Dale Hillier !!!
Just as a matter of principle, how many of those who signed the agreement are smokers, because if any of them are, then it turns out to be yet another load of hypicritical B/S which is very often the case when those in any sort of power have anything to do with it
Keep those hands tightly clasped Jordan, for gods sake don’t speak out against this or he will stand abruptly, point at you and start ranting like a spoilt child. Did that nest of cables on the bottom right of the photo pass safety regulations? Looks like Jordan has had a few to get ready for this photo op.
I can see this idea going up in smoke!
All part of the Net Zero B@llocks
What a motley crew they look too. God help us.
What a load of b@ll@cks
I have never seen a place where so many people
Smoke and Vape.
School children are vaping at an excessive amount and
smoking even takes place where it shouldn’t
People stand on the back of Sandown Pier Smoking
The island is a lawless place, there are NO Rules!
Close down all Vape shops, where are children getting their
Vapes from?
Does plod not see children vaping when they are out and about on duty?
How about a SPEED FREE Island
I am fed up with all the DANGEROUS speeding on the island.
Time to act!, the island is a soft touch when it comes to Speeding!
I’m fed up with all the slow cars. The Island is a soft touch when it comes to geriatric driving!
The island needs to combat polluting vehicles
This weekend the island was full of polluting vehicles polluting the island.
In London these vehicles would not be ULEZ compliant, why does the
Island allow polluting vehicles to drive on our island roads.
Time to charge polluting vehicles polluting the Island, better still
BAN Polluting vehicles from the Island.
And the bellend of the month award goes to ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️
The truth always hurts
Yes, and it would raise money for the Council, too.
As history repeats it self , no lessons are learned from prohibition . All this will do is create a bigger black market for the selling of and making more crime in the process.
Roll on a Fart Tax, an excellent way for IW Council to earn extra
revenue.
Never mind the fact SEN provisions are in dire need of adressing, mental health services for young people and men are shocking, lack of dentistry services available.
Nah its okay we’ll spout crud about smoking (no its not a good thing, bigger picture thinking)
Focus more on youths vaping i see way more young teens in ryde high uniforms vaping in their way to school.
Maybe being naive but thought councillors job was to give value for money regarding housing, infrastructure, policing etc.. Didn’t realise it was to try and stop people doing something that’s completely legal.
Start by stopping people from smoking outside supermarkets and shops. I don’t want to walk through your toxic breath
And outside the hospital….
And outside Sandown Pier and Wetherspoons.
They even smoke and Vape on Sandown pier,
the management does not stop it.
Virtue signalling. The IWC cannot stop people smoking, but I’m sure spending our money on ‘initiatives’ makes them hope we will believe they can.
IW Council couldn’t stop a bus
Lol