A WESTON bar owner is demanding to know what North Somerset Council is doing to prevent cigarette butts piling up on the town's pavements when the nationwide smoking ban comes in. At the same time North Somerset Council says it is spending £100,000 on 'tr

A WESTON bar owner is demanding to know what North Somerset Council is doing to prevent cigarette butts piling up on the town's pavements when the nationwide smoking ban comes in.At the same time North Somerset Council says it is spending £100,000 on 'training' business owner and members of the public on what the initiative, which will come into force on July 1, will mean for them.Dawn Coupe who owns Scally's in Carlton Street with her partner Kevan Place, says she is worried that when people have to go outside to light up they will then throw their cigarettes on the pavements, resulting in increased litter. She wants the authority to consider introducing 'stubbi' packs like they have in Cardiff, where smoking in public places is already banned.The little packs can be kept in smokers' pockets and finished cigarettes can be put inside without even having to stub them out. Dawn said: "A friend went to Cardiff and went into a pub where they were giving out the packs and he thought 'what a brill idea'. He brought some back to show us."My concerns are that the butts will end up on the pavements. Are these packs going to be put in our bars to control the problem?"All councils have been given a budget to help bring in the smoking ban."I want to know if the local authority has any plans like Cardiff for the town centre."North Somerset Council has been given £17,000 for 2006/07 and will be given a further £83,000 for 2007/08 to help cope with the smoking ban.A North Somerset Council spokesman said: "We are using our budget on training."Work has already begun to get the message out to businesses in North Somerset about their responsibilities under the new legislation and what they have to do to comply with the law."During the next few months North Somerset Council will continue to work to increase awareness with mail shots, seminars and information on our website."Some of the money will also be used to make sure the council is following the law, including displaying no smoking signs at entrances to public areas.""We are still looking at some of the other initiatives other authorities have brought in.