Removal of Rhydycar Leisure Centre Sun Beds
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council is removing the sun beds from Rhydycar Leisure Centre on Friday 1st October 2004 for health and safety reasons.
Too much sun and the use of sun beds have been linked to health problems, including the possible development of skin cancer.
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council’s Vision is for Merthyr Tydfil to “be a safe, healthy and exciting place to live and visit.” The provision of sun beds at a Council-run leisure centre clashes with this vision and so the decision was taken by Councillors to remove them.
Councillor Bill Smith, Portfolio Member for Customer Community Services at the Council, said, “Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council encourages and supports everyone in the Merthyr Tydfil area to be fit, healthy and safe. The risks associated with sun beds meant that we could not continue to support them being used in centres owned and managed by the Council.”
Councillor, Dave James, also Portfolio Member for Customer Community Services, added “It is important that Merthyr Council is seen to be providing a lead in terms of the health agenda and the continuing provision of sun beds is counter producive to this aim. ”
- The Institute of Occupational Safety and Health who state that ‘Exposure to ultraviolet radiation is one of the primary causes of the most common type of cancer, the skin cancer. More and more epidemiological evidence indicates that artificial tanning lamps also contribute to the risk of skin cancerogenesis including malignant melanoma.'
- BUPA group state that ‘Unfortunately the belief that a suntan is healthy is a myth. A suntan is the skin's response to damage from UV radiation - from sunlight or sun beds. Regular exposure to UV radiation is known to age the skin, causing sagging and wrinkles; and also increases the risk of skin cancer in the long term. The simple truth is that a suntan fades, but skin damage from tanning does not’
- The British Medical Association (BMA) states that ‘We do not recommend the use of tanning devices for cosmetic purposes because of the potential risks to health associated with their use. The BMA urges the Government to regulate the use of sun beds for non-therapeutic purposes’
- The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) will tell delegates at its forthcoming annual conference that ‘sun bed facilities in local authority leisure centres should be banned as they pose a significant risk to consumers. Skin cancer in the UK is a major problem and by using sun beds, people are increasing the risk of contracting skin cancer. As a lead player in promoting and protecting public health, it seems wholly inappropriate for local authorities to make money from sun beds’
- Cancer Research UK (CRUK) states that ‘We would welcome any reduction in the number of sun beds available. What we want to see is less people using them and being much more aware of the potential dangers of using sun beds, especially young people.’