I write this petition bearing a personal burden. Living with a chronic respiratory illness, every breath is precious. Now, that breath is threatened daily by the onslaught of smoke from my neighbor, whose patio is just four meters away from my property. This neighbor, a chain smoker, ensures my property is blanketed with fumes at all hours of the day and evening.

This grim reality is not unique to me; it is one experienced by many residents nationwide, victims of second-hand smoke. In the U.K., about 2.3 million people are exposed to second-hand smoke in their own homes according to a study by the British Lung Foundation.

The Environmental Protection Act 1990 serves as our shield against environmental nuisances, yet, it fails to address this issue of smoking nuisance adjacent to residential outside spaces. That means if you are pregnant, have young children or a chronic disease you have no protection under current law.

To remedy this omission, I believe we need an urgent revision in our legislation. It's time to revisit and update the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to include provisions relating to nuisance caused by smokers adjacent to residential spaces. Not only would this improve the environmental quality of residences, it would safeguard the health of vulnerable individuals and non-smokers who equally have a right to enjoy clean, smoke-free air.

Take a stand. Let's call on our MPs to broaden the horizons of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to capture the serious nuisance and health risk presented by adjacent smokers. Please, sign and share this petition for the sake of our health, our homes, and our peace of mind.