2024-07-04 14:47:43
BOLZANO. Anyone expecting to see signs saying “No smoking” appearing at the Lido soon will have to wait. How long? Realistically, we will be talking about it next summer; even if both Mayor Renzo Caramaschi and Councillor Juri Andriollo they do not rule out the possibility of implementing the ban by the end of the summer season.
The decision, approved by the city council about ten days ago on the proposal of a resolution by the councilors of Team K, was frozen by the protest of a group of Lido regulars. Annoyed by the idea of no longer being able to smoke freely, they decided to promote a signature collection.
The pro-tobacco petition
How many they have collected so far is not known; certainly they were enough to make the councilor Juri Andriollo, the man of mediation, intervene: «I met – he explains – some of the promoters of the initiative; we talked. I explained to them the importance of providing for a ban on smoking inside a recreational facility, also frequented by many children. The agreement is that we will identify together the places, where it will still be possible to smoke. Besides, we had already planned to create ad hoc spaces».
But since the decision was taken – almost unanimously – by the city council, couldn’t we proceed, without having to go through the consultation made up of meetings, discussions, mediations? “Of course, everything is possible – Andriollo admits – but I always prefer the discussion, in which I explain the reasons for a choice. It’s the best way to get even the bans accepted. Impositions lead nowhere. In addition to the fact that we were accused of changing the rules after the season had started”.
So how long will it take to mediate, convince and then move on to the operational phase, that is, the installation of the signs? “We will try to do it quickly – promises the councilor -: if possible we would like to introduce the ban before the end of the season”. However, considering that we are at the beginning of July and the facility will close on September 8, there are objectively few possibilities. It’s a shame because it was a good initiative; an important signal to try to combat smoking and above all protect against the negative effects of passive smoking. The ban includes including electronic cigarettes.
Team K’s proposal
It was opposition councilors Matthias Cologna and Thomas Brancaglion who presented the proposed resolution to modify the Lido’s regulations. To reduce exposure to passive smoking and promote healthy lifestyles, a general smoking ban was added, except in specifically designated areas. Since it is not a sports facility to which law 3/2003 applies but a leisure facility, it did not include a general smoking ban, thus exposing many users to passive smoking. “It is proven that this is harmful to health, increasing the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Given the importance of promoting healthy lifestyles and protecting public health, we thought it was important to propose this measure that reduces exposure to passive smoking, particularly in highly frequented environments, such as the Lido”, this is the note that was released by Team K to explain the initiative.
The two councilors had brought to the floor the proposed resolution that modifies the regulation, adding to article 15 the ban on smoking and using electronic cigarettes or devices to heat tobacco. Everyone agreed, only two votes against. Confirming the great sensitivity that now exists on this issue. It was a question of moving on to the operational phase: identifying the areas reserved for smokers and installing the signs. But the protest with the related collection of signatures froze everything.
2024-07-04 14:47:43