Council votes to keep its sunbeds, in face of campaign against them (From Thisisdorset)

Council votes to keep its sunbeds, in face of campaign against them

7:00pm Wednesday 19th November 2008 in

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SUNBEDS will continue to operate in the New Forest’s council-run recreation centres, it has been decided.

Campaigners have fought a long-running battle to have tanning beds taken out of service amid fears they can cause malignant melanomas – the deadliest form of skin cancer.

But after a heated debate over the safety of the machines, leisure bosses at New Forest District Council ruled that adequate safety measures and warnings were in place at their facilities and said funds raised from the beds were a valuable source of income.

At a meeting of the council’s leisure, culture and youth panel, former skin cancer sufferer Fiona Hardy renewed her call for the sunbeds to be taken out of service.

She told the council: “I feel, knowing the dangers of sunbeds, it is your responsibility to remove them.

“If I were in your position I would be very reluctant to ignore the advice of experts.

“This is your chance to do the right thing. “It is not a matter for party politics, it is a matter for your conscience.

“You would not sell cigarettes in the foyer – I do not believe there is a difference with sunbeds.”

She was supported by Cllr David Harrison who said members had a duty to help protect people who used their facilities.

He added: “The use of sunbeds does not fall in with our corporate aim, which is about pursuing a positive health agenda.

“The fact that we continue to have this service sends the wrong message to people who come in and use the leisure centres.”

The authority currently has four horizontal and four vertical fast tan beds in its recreational facilities.

In 2007/8, the service brought in £47,428.

A majority of members voted to follow officers’ advice and continue providing the service.

Cllr Alexis McEvoy said: “As a council, we have a responsibility to maximise our income and minimise the burden on the rate payers.

“It is not the job of the council to tell people how to live their lives, but it is sensible to tell people about the risks and therefore help people make their own informed choices.”