Cornwall Council has agreed to write to the Health Secretary asking the government to ban flavoured vapes in a bid to stop children taking up the habit. However, a number of councillors have commented that a complete ban would impact adults’ freedom of choice.

A meeting of the full council on Tuesday (September 24) debated a motion by Conservative councillors Peter Perry and Barry Jordan that the leader of the council writes to the government and Cornwall’s six MPs requesting the intended ban on the sale of e-cigarettes and vapes to those under 18 becomes legislation without delay.

Cllr Jordan said he sees children vaping on the way home from school. “They must have them in their pockets, they can explode in your pockets – they’re a dangerous thing.” He called on the council to add a new part to the motion calling for the Government to ban flavoured vapes, which he believed encouraged use among children. The amendment was accepted. “There’s evidence that children like the flavours, such as bubblegum. For a lot of young people, it may be the only reason they vape,” he added.

Tory councillor Dave Crabtree agreed, saying it was surprising how many children he saw using vapes on the way home from school. Cllr Louis Gardner, the Conservative councillor in charge of the economy, said: “My daughter’s nine, she’s been offered vapes at school. I find that absolutely appalling. I’ve seen on the streets of Newquay promotional companies giving them out for free with absolutely no reference to the person being over 18.”

Martin Worth, another Tory councillor, said he had spoken to his daughters who are both teachers, who told him that schools face challenges every day in policing the problem of vapes within school grounds. He supported the proposals to “get rid of this blight on our young people”.

Liberal Democrat councillor Colin Martin said he was happy to support the original motion but he was worried about the amendment banning flavoured vapes for everyone. “The danger is by banning them do you then create an underground black market for flavoured vapes?” Fellow Lib Dem member Leigh Frost said that the amendment would impact on an adult’s freedom of choice and many adults use flavoured vapes to stop smoking cigarettes.

Cllr Barbara Ellenbroek, the Conservative portfolio holder for families and children, added: “My major concern is the amount of time in education that is wasted on teachers having to police – and I use that word advisedly – young people who hide their vapes and disrupt the school day. It is a real discipline problem within schools.”

Cllr John Martin added that incidents of fires at recycling centres have doubled over the last 18 months solely due to vapes being processed. The motion, including the amendment asking for the banning of flavoured vapes, was carried.