Health chiefs have called for a town centre smoking ban in a bid to cut down the number of people suffering illnesses and diseases from sparking up.

The Ashford Health and Wellbeing Board discussed the idea of creating no-go zones for smokers, which could see town centre streets and parks become cigarette-free to “de-normalise” the habit.

According to Kent County Council’s public health consultant, Dr Faiza Khan, 26% of people in the borough regularly light-up, a figure which is above the national average of 18%.

Dr Khan also revealed that 42% of people from a working-class background were smokers and estimated that there were 25,000 smokers in the borough, which costs the community nearly £40 million each year.

Tackling the issue has become the board’s top priority with a range of measures being promoted at GP surgeries, hospitals and workplaces.

Ashford borough councillor and board vice-chairman Cllr Brad Bradford (Con) suggested writing to the Health Secretary to call for the complete ban of the sale of tobacco.

This suggestion was turned down over fears it would lead to a black market boom in illegal products, which could also be filled with other chemicals and substances.

Instead Kent County Council cabinet member Cllr Graham Gibbens suggested Ashford could pilot a scheme to create smoke-free places in the town centre and in parks in a bid to “de-normalise” smoking.

The minutes state: “He supported the suggestion that Ashford consider making the town centre smoke-free and he said he believed that this would be a massive initiative and no doubt the issue of how the ban would be enforced would be paramount.”

Now the board is preparing to write a letter to Ashford MP Damian Green, and a £200 voting cigarette litter bin has been put in place in Park Mall to find out people’s views about a smoke-free town centre.

The idea will be discussed at the Ashford Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on Wednesday, along with the seven-point plan to get people to kick the habit.

Smoking was banned in all public places and in the workplace in 2007, which put smokers out in the cold for their breaks, while smoking in cars with children was banned in October last year.

Calls for smoking bans in town centres and parks has not yet taken off in the UK, but there are smoking bans at certain sites in cities such as New York and Tokyo.

Last year Bristol piloted a voluntary scheme asking smokers not to light up in two busy public squares, and Brighton & Hove City Council has also considered a similar scheme for public areas.

Last month Ashford Borough Council contractor Kingdom started to impose £75 fines for litterbugs, which included those who drop cigarette butts. The company could be used to enforce any smoking ban in the town centre.

In Ashford, the Health and Wellbeing Board estimates there are 25,000 regular smokers.

The board says it costs the community £39.8 million every year, which includes costs such as health treatment in hospital or at GP practices as well as the cost to businesses for lost productivity on sick days and sick pay.

Smoking was banned in all public places and in the workplace in 2007, which put smokers out in the cold for their breaks, while smoking in cars with children was banned in October last year.

Calls for smoking bans in town centres and parks has not yet taken off in the UK, but there are smoking bans at certain sites in cities such as New York and Tokyo.

Last year Bristol piloted a voluntary scheme asking smokers not to light up in two busy public squares, and Brighton & Hove City Council has also considered a similar scheme for public areas.

Last month Ashford Borough Council contractor Kingdom started to impose £75 fines for litterbugs, which included those who drop cigarette butts.

The company could be used to enforce any smoking ban in the town centre.