A MOTHER of three was outraged that smokers are still being allowed to light up inside St Neots Leisure Centre. Susan Webb, a policewoman from Brampton, was angry when people started smoking inside the cafeteria at the Huntingdonshire District Council-ru

A MOTHER of three was outraged that smokers are still being allowed to light up inside St Neots Leisure Centre.

Susan Webb, a policewoman from Brampton, was angry when people started smoking inside the cafeteria at the Huntingdonshire District Council-run centre while she was breast feeding.

She said: "It's wrong when my baby's health is ignored and a person's right to smoke is protected.

"I feel outraged that people are allowed to smoke in a leisure centre where they are trying to promote healthy living."

Unclear whether people were allowed to smoke in the café and bar area Susan - who uses the swimming pool with her five year old twins Shira and Reece - approached the leisure centre manager and asked about the smoking policy.

"I was appalled when the leisure centre manager told me he couldn't do anything as smoking is allowed after certain times," she said.

"I think this is appalling and should be changed, and I am willing to take this to the Mayor of St Neots."

A spokesman for Huntingdonshire District Council, which manages five leisure centres in Huntingdonshire including St Neots, said: "Smoking is banned at our leisure centres until after 5.30pm on weekdays.

"This is because children mostly use the centre before 5.30pm.

"Smoking used to be allowed after 3.30pm but that was changed in 2004 after consideration by HDC scrutiny panel.

"A total ban on smoking was considered but was deemed inappropriate because of the impact it would have on the leisure centres' income as private function are held there, and people's freedom of choice."

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