Cambridgeshire County Council has won a Silver national Clean Air Award for its commitment to protecting staff and the public from the dangers of secondhand smoke in the workplace. The County Council – which employs 18,000 people - went completely smoke

Cambridgeshire County Council has won a Silver national Clean Air Award for its commitment to protecting staff and the public from the dangers of secondhand smoke in the workplace.

The County Council - which employs 18,000 people - went completely smoke free on all its sites around Cambridgeshire on January 1, meaning that smoking is not allowed anywhere in any of its 600 buildings and only in areas as least 10 metres away from buildings on council sites.

Zoe Harvey, who presented the award on behalf of Smoke Free Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: "We congratulate Cambridgeshire County Council for putting measures in place to safeguard their staff and visitors from secondhand smoke. This is a great example to other employers in Cambridgeshire."

As a major employer in Cambridgeshire the County Council is leading the way for businesses all over the county in preparing for national smoke free legislation which comes into force on July 1, 2007.

County Council Director of People and Policy, Stephen Moir, who received the award, said: "The County Council is committed to providing a clean and healthy environment for our staff and visitors to our premises and we are delighted that the efforts we have made to create a smoke free atmosphere have been recognized by the award of a national Clean Air Award.

"We will also be encouraging our staff who smoke to take advantage of the available services and support designed to help them kick the smoking habit."

There are Camquit Services available in many parts of Cambridgeshire - for more information contact (01223) 723022.

Gold National Clean Air Awards are presented to organisations which do not permit smoking on any part of their premises or sites. Silver awards recognise employers who have banned smoking inside any buildings, but still allow people to light up outside in designated areas. For further information visit www.cleanairaward.org.uk