CIRENCESTER'S newest landlord will be the first in the town to get rid of his cigarette vending machine, following the news that the dispensers may soon be banned altogether.
The amendment to the Health Bill by Labour MP Ian McCartney to ban the machines from all pubs, clubs and restaurants was passed by the House of Commons last month.
One in three licensed venues in Cirencester currently have the vending machines installed.
Mark Lindesay, the new owner of The Golden Cross in Black Jack Street, is the first to make plans to remove his vending machine.
"We have to be sensible about this issue and act responsibly," he said.
"Removing the machines will help reduce the number of young people taking up the habit. It is a natural progression after the ban on smoking in public places." Ben Corfield, manger of The Marlborough Sports Bar in Cirencester, agreed with the government move.
"As part of a small community we have to be proactive in our response to health issues but also realise that smoking is a fundamentally a matter of choice. People will continue to smoke but it is about our children and the future," he said.
Gloucestershire Trading Standards said there is also a proposal to restrict the display of tobacco in shops but this is only at an early stage and will not be implemented until 2011.
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