Urgent Action Required – Smoking in Tugmutton Common Park (Orpington) by PRUH Staff Creating Health Hazard

I am writing to raise a serious concern regarding persistent smoking activity taking place in Tugmutton Common Park in Orpington, particularly around the children's play area and benches near the entrance.

It has been observed on a regular basis that staff from the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH), especially cleaning staff, are using the park bench during their breaks to smoke openly. This is happening in close proximity to young children and families using the play area, posing a significant public health hazard due to second-hand smoke exposure.

This behaviour is unacceptable in a public park where children of all ages come to play and families gather. Despite the known dangers of passive smoking—especially for children—there appears to be no enforcement or signage in place to discourage or prohibit this activity. The use of a public, family-friendly space for smoking by healthcare workers is particularly disappointing and sends the wrong message to the community.

I urge the Council to take immediate and strict action to:

Enforce no-smoking regulations in the park.

Install clear and visible signage stating that smoking is not permitted, especially near the play area.

Liaise with PRUH management to ensure their staff are aware of and comply with these regulations.

Consider issuing penalties to repeat offenders to deter future incidents.

This situation requires urgent attention to protect the health and wellbeing of local residents and children. I would appreciate a formal response detailing the steps that will be taken.