July 2, 1976

THE air cleared a little in Redditch Council chamber this week as councillors reached a hazy com- promise on the vexed cigarette controversy.

Smokers and non-smokers have called on the expert services of Horace Shakels, the council chairman, to settle their smouldering dispute.

He will judge just when smoking will be allowed and when councillors will have to suck sweets, chew gum or twiddle their fingers instead.

And while this move was generally welcomed among the town's councillors, John Coleman, a smoker, was sure this would give non-smokers the edge.

"It is OK to give the chairman discretion to allow smoking," he said, "but it really depends on whether he is a smoker or not."