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Smoking fight costs taxpayers £30k
THE battle to force rebel pub landlord Hamish Howitt to obey the smoking ban has cost Blackpool council taxpayers more than £30,000, it was revealed today.
Blackpool Council took the fight to the High Court after a district judge ruled it had been wrong to revoke Mr Howitt's licence on the grounds that allowing smoking constituted crime and disorder.
But on Tuesday Judge Denyer backed the council and said permitting smoking in a place where it is banned constitutes a criminal offence.
Julian Kearsley, executive director for business services at Blackpool Council, said: "The cost to the council of upholding this piece of legislation has been in excess of 30,000.
Click here to replay Hamish Howitt's webchat as he faced questions from Gazette readers.
"Every other Blackpool pub and club has complied with the ban, as have the vast majority nationally. Blackpool Council has been at the forefront of this legislation nationally because of this issue."
Licensing chairman Coun Henry Mitchell said the council had to pursue the case because it was unfair on other pubs who were upholding the smoking ban.
Mr Howitt was forced to close his Delboy's Bar on Rigby Road immediately after Tuesday's ruling. The 57-year-old had consistently allowed people to light up inside the premises since the ban was introduced in July 2007.
After the court hearing in London, Mr Howitt said he hoped to apply for a new licence and would assure the council he would not allow smoking but would continue to fight his battle through the courts.
Licensing chairman Coun Henry Mitchell said the council would listen to an application, provided Mr Howitt could demonstrate he meant what he said about preventing smoking. Coun Mitchell said: "He has gone to the top and feels passionately about this but it has pushed him to the verge of bankruptcy.
"What I am concerned about is the people who have adhered to the laws of the land, even though in some cases the ban has damaged their businesses.
"If everyone else is adhering to the rules, then Mr Howitt must as well."
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Weather for Blackpool
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 27 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
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