A COUNCIL will cough up cash to help office workers kick the dreaded weed.

Ribble Valley Council has been looking to ban smoking at its Clitheroe offices after 74 per cent of staff said they would support the move.

Smokers can currently light up in the canteen at the Church Walk offices at specially designated times.

Workers were asked for their views on smoking in the workplace via a written questionnaire. And seven of the 13 smokers questioned said they would welcome help in kicking the habit.

Personnel officers told a committee meeting last month that the results of the survey clearly indicated that the council's smoking policy needed to be reviewed.

Councillors gave the go-ahead for a draft no-smoking policy to be written and for assistance to be offered to workers who "genuinely wanted to stop smoking."

The new policy states: "The council recognises the harm that tobacco smoking causes and wishes to minimise the risk of exposure to passive smoke for non-smokers.

"But it is also mindful of the hardship which the introduction of restrictions will cause smokers and will seek to provide support and assistance to those staff."

Personnel officer Michelle Smith told councillors at the meeting that smokers would be given help to cope with the proposed ban.

"Preliminary discussions have been held with occupational health advisors with a view to providing support for smokers to cope with the changes detailed in the policy.

"It is proposed that a contribution per relevant employee be made to help him or her cope with the no-smoking restriction, to be used for a recognised treatment such as smoking patches and gum, or alternative therapies where the individual genuinely intends to stop smoking," she said.

The ban, which will also include the nearby Ribble Valley town hall, will be reviewed by personnel officers and union representatives on an annual basis, councillors decided.

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