Landlady fined for allowing smoking in pub

Jan 3 2009 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A BATLEY landlady has been fined after admitting she failed to stop punters smoking in her pub.

Susan Wigglesworth, landlady of the Hare and Hounds pub in Field Head Lane, Batley, pleaded guilty to allowing customers to light-up at the pub.

She was fined £100 by Dewsbury magistrates, ordered to pay £200 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

A further charge of failing to give relevant information to an authorised officer was withdrawn following her guilty plea.

It is the second case of its kind to be brought in Kirklees after the conviction of self-styled smoking champion Stuart Smith who boasted that he would allow smokers at The College Arms.

Kirklees Council prosecutor Geoff Bell said the case had been brought after the smoking ban was introduced in 2006 which makes it illegal to smoke in an enclosed public place.

Environmental health officers visited the Batley pub last February and found three people smoking.