A NEW no smoking policy is to be adopted in all public property owned by Tavistock Town Council, to take effect from November 1 this year. Members at last week?s meeting of the town?s properties committee heard that cigarette dispenser trays have been installed at selected exits around the town hall in advance of new legislation regarding smoking, due to come into effect next year. Cllr Mandy Govier said she thought it was time the council adopted an official policy regarding smoking in all its properties and offices, including the works depot. Cllr Iain Andrews, chairman of the properties committee, said: ?I would have hoped we would be in advance of any legislation and taking pro-active steps to make sure people could enjoy an atmosphere which is smoke-free.? Cllr Norma Woodcock said: ?Lots of people are affected by smoke, not just have a distaste for it. I would like to think all our buildings were non-smoking.? Wayne Southall, works superintendent, told members that employees were no longer permitted to smoke in council vehicles ? at the works depot there was a separate room for eating and smoking but he was investigating the idea of an outside shelter where people could smoke if they needed to during the day. Town clerk Roger Howard said the smoking ban would apply to all public buildings owned by the town council, including the town hall, pannier market, council offices and cemetery. Col Howard said: ?I am looking into the legislation to see when the rules and regulations come into effect, but we shall certainly introduce things sympathetically.? Col Howard said he did not anticipate there would be problems and already, when the town hall was booked for weddings and other functions, guests tended to smoke outside anyway. ?At the moment in the pannier market it is discouraged but it?s not banned. The traders obviously cannot smoke anyway. ?We will probably be putting sandbin fag-end type receptacles outside the market so people can put out their cigarettes before they go in.? The no smoking policy was due to be ratified by the council at its full meeting on Tuesday night.