Elaine Wright and Ali (Paul Johnson), of the Pinewood Tavern, say their petition, calling for Welshpool Town Council's support in attempting to get smoking rooms introduced, is gathering pace.

In less than a week they have gathered almost 200 signatures.
The petition was set up in reaction to a letter from Welshpool Town Council saying a meeting held on the issue saw those present vote against smoking rooms in pubs by 83 to three.

Welshpool Town Council Clerk Robert Robinson said in the letter: "I feel as there was no support there is no point taking this further."

Elaine and Ali hope that with enough support they will be able to get the council to reverse its decision and further explore the possibility of setting up separate smoking rooms in pubic houses.

"We started the petition on Sunday (February 17) lunchtime and already we have filled nine A4 sheets of paper with names of people in support of introducing a smoking room," said Elaine.

"Remarkably about 50 per cent of the people who have supported the campaign are actually non-smokers," she added.

Elaine and Ali said they were not even notified of the Welshpool meeting and they questioned how many of the 86 who voted on the matter actually used public houses.

Speaking about their petition they said: "These are people that are using the pubs. We have no idea who the people who voted at the town council meeting are.

"They might be people who never go near a pub."

Speaking about the fact they were not notified of the meeting they said:"This affects all licensed premises so really they should've all been informed."

Elaine also voiced her disapproval of the ban full stop, she said: "They are taking our rights off us. What are they going to tell us next. You can only drink so much?

"It has affected business, I'm about £1,000 a week down."
Elaine also said that other pubs were now interested in joining the petition and gathering their own signatures.

"We started the petition on Sunday (February 17) lunchtime and already we have filled nine A4 sheets of paper with names of people in support of introducing a smoking room," said Elaine.

"Remarkably about 50 per cent of the people who have supported the campaign are actually non-smokers," she added.

Elaine and Ali said they were not even notified of the Welshpool meeting and they questioned how many of the 86 who voted on the matter actually used public houses.

Speaking about their petition they said: "These are people that are using the pubs. We have no idea who the people who voted at the town council meeting are.

"They might be people who never go near a pub."

Speaking about the fact they were not notified of the meeting they said:"This affects all licensed premises so really they should've all been informed."

Elaine also voiced her disapproval of the ban full stop, she said: "They are taking our rights off us. What are they going to tell us next. You can only drink so much?

"It has affected business, I'm about £1,000 a week down."

Elaine also said that other pubs were now interested in joining the petition and gathering their own signatures.

* What do you think? Add your comment below or write to 11c Broad Street, Welshpool, SY21 7LE. Email news@countytimes.co.uk