GroenLinks, ChristenUnie, PvdA, Party for the Animals, Denk and Student & Starter – together accounting for 23 of the 45 seats on Utrecht City Council – fear that smokers will move to play areas near the school from August 2020 – when the nationwide ban comes into force, preferably those with benches. In written questions, the six parties are calling on alderman Eerenberg (D66, public health) to ban smoking in play areas and playgrounds. “Every child should be able to grow up in a smoke-free environment. And should therefore also be able to play happily in a play area without smoke,” GroenLinks councillor Marcel Vonk told AD Utrechts Nieuwsblad.
The parties want the smoking ban to be introduced before the new school year. Alderman Eerenberg will respond to the request within a few weeks.
In March 2018, the municipality of Utrecht joined the Smoke-Free Generation Alliance Netherlands!, a partnership of more than thirty organisations striving for a smoke-free generation. Since then, a number of steps have been taken. In Utrecht, 21 managed playgrounds, among others, are smoke-free. An increasing number of Utrecht sports clubs also have a smoking ban. In 2019, Utrecht had 39 clubs where smoking was prohibited. In 2018, there were still 22.