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Smoke ban rebel launches appeal
A BLACKPOOL pub landlord has launched his appeal against losing his licence for breaking the UK's smoking ban.
Hamish Howitt is fighting Blackpool Council's decision to revoke the licence at his Delboys Sports Bar, on Rigby Road, South Shore.
The pub boss previously pleaded guilty to 12 offences of breaching the new smoking laws by failing to prevent smoking at his premises.
Howitt, 54, of Park Road, Blackpool, appeared before resort magistrates yesterday to ask that an appeal be heard as soon as possible.
Blackpool magistrates set the full appeal date hearing against Howitt's loss of licence for April 9.
Victoria Cartmell, prosecuting for Blackpool Council, told magistrates Howitt had two bars on Rigby Road.
These comprised the ground floor Delboys Sports Bar and Happy Scots Bar in the basement.
Ms Cartmell said: "He has taken a stance about smoking.
"He has allowed smoking in his bar since the smoking ban came in."
She said revocation of the bar's licence had been sought on health and safety grounds and a Weights and Measures incident said to involve an under-age drinker.
But, defending himself, Mr Howitt said Blackpool Council had revoked the licence from the wrong bar.
He said: "I have been losing money hand over fist.
"I believe the council has got the wrong bar in these proceedings."
Howitt has campaigned to allow smoking in bars and has covered the outside walls of the bars in posters and newspaper cuttings about his fight against the ban.
Supporters of Howitt's stance against the ban have contributed more than 1,500 to help with his mounting legal costs.
A non-smoker, he previously stated: "I'm not pro smoking, just pro freedom."
He has also claimed he is willing to risk bankruptcy and even prison for his campaign and has vowed to take the matter to the European Court of Human Rights.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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