instead of these useless comments, why don't you suggest (=push) your Government to leave the EU?

riccardo, brussels,

If its cold, either don't stand outside like a leper to have a fag or wear more clothes. Really is that simple!
These 'global warmers' are so damaging, the sooner the ban comes in the better in my eyes.
Smokers can damage their own health if they want, but don't let these heaters damage the earth.

We are borrowing the plant from our children, not leaving it to them!

English-Bird, Malmesbury, UK

It seems a little rich for Wetherspoons to be protesting, since it was they who led the charge to restrict smoking in pubs in the first place.
Patio heaters were pretty rare in this area until the smoking ban loomed, and even "small" pub businesses had to fork out to try to hold onto customers.

MikeM, St. Albans, England

War has been declared on the British pub it seems. I don't know if its intentional, but we appear to be seeing a stream of legislation that is destined to make pubs less viable as businesses. Pubs are having enough trouble hanging on to punters as it is. This isn't going to sink the pub on its own, but with the smoking ban, higher rents, higher taxes on alcohol in the pipeline and whatever-is-to-come-next then the pub as we know it is soon going to become an endangered species.

RTS, Worcester,

why are we worrying about this at all...the much more prominent issue is Nibiru or 'planet X' that is causing all of this so called global warming in the first place.

Daniel Honeywell, Northampton, Uk

As for the burden of second hand smokers on the NHS, virtually zero.

Bob, Bangkok,

Are they also going to ban Midge Eaters that are used across the whole of Scotland. These too give off large volumes of C02 which attract midges. What also about fireworks or fires...how far do we go?

These laws are simply going too far. It will cost jobs which will hurt an already damaged economy.

Rich, Nottingham, Notts

its up to the pubs its not like carbon's that sereous water vaper is a bigger greenhouse gas.

sam, london,

If it were to become clear that this ban would also affect the many expensive Brussels restaurants that have overhead gas and electric heating so that cutomers can eat out all year round the proposed ban would be dropped at once as MEPs would lose so many of their favourite eateries for which we all pay on their unaudited expenses.

Philip C, Wallingford, Oxon

I say, ban them. If the smokers want to poison themselves, let them do it in their own private homes. Everyone else should be prepared to dress appropriately for the weather and temperature if they want to stand outside.

matty, Bristol, UK

Absolutely mental. The world has gone mad. Ridiculous

Matt, Egham,

All I can say is support your local publican

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn6zye0nh8w

Donnie, Derby,

There are far more useful ways to use the remainder of the world's valuable oil resources.

Whatever opinion you have on global warming, patio heaters are a waste of energy, when you consider pensioners who cannot afford to heat their homes, or third world countries where food production is unaffordable.

What's wrong with wearing a coat or jumper?

Tina, South Wales, UK

They are not "Patio Heaters", they are "Global Warmers"...

Pete, Swindon,

£250 million quid a year? It's true though, I never went to the pub before they had these heaters and I'll never go again if they get rid of them. Oh hang on. I will. What's the problem if they get rid of them? When I used to smoke, I used to stand outside bars in the Alps in minus temperatures. Get over it.

Paul, London,

Bloody stupid carbon paronoia. I mean really, put this into perspective alongside cow farts.

Al, Soton, uk

Another dictat from Brussels with no thought for the variation in weather in different countries, its time we came out of the EU. Strikes me they realy want to see the end of the English Pub.

Donnie, Derby,

Chris Camb, the NHS issued figures for the treatment of smoking related illnesses as being £1.7 billion. The government receive over £10 billion in taxes from smokers. It must be obvious even to people as out of touch with the realities as yourself that there are no cost ramifications regarding smokers. They, (and I don't smoke BTW), after paying the same NHS contributions as yourself are actually subsidising you. If everyone stopped smoking taxes would have to up. Fact. In years to come they would go up even more as the people not smoking will live longer and claim more in pensions and other benefits.

James Buckingham, York,

It is obvious that the bigoted Anti-Smokers have no regard for elderly and disabled who are forced outside by a smoking ban based on lies and is the most draconian and socially divisive law ever passed in the UK.

Dartagnan, Edinburgh, Scotland

Hey, so they ban my patio heater. I'll just buy me one of these outdoor burners and burn wood instead. No problem. More global warning nonsense.

Paul Downes, Milton Keynes, Bucks

We managed quite well without these ridiculously environmentally dodgy products until a few years back. WEAR A JUMPER! When it's cold, stay indoors or wear more clothes. Quite simple and a total nonsense that pubs would lose that much money.

angelica , brighton,

Pete, St. Albans. In regards to smoking and tax revenue; how much of a burden are active and passive smokers on the NHS? Those are costly ramifications. So if fewer people went outside to smoke, we'd need fewer heaters outdoors and indoors from a CO2 perspective. I do agree that it would harm pub profts, but it's for the greater good...

Chris, Cambridge, UK

Is there anything more ridiculous than allowing people to heat the atmosphere with carbon based fuel?
If these people that think that it's necessary are griping because their getting cold then buy a jacket! The cancer will kill you long before the cold does!

Anon, anon,

It's particularly interesting, and not a little disheartening, to observe the several comments of individuals who appear entrenched by their limited perspectives of the economic and environmental impact of arrogant and self serving attitudes and behaviors. Certainly it's the right of anyone who wishes to waste nonrenewable resources to do so - that does not mean, though, that wastefulness is the moral practice. If someone wants to stand outside naked or nominally clothed during the winter, the owner of the land or property that the individual wants to temporarily occupy is not obligated to keep that person pleasantly warm. I'm not surprised to see the statements of the supposed "rights of smokers" attempted by the intellectually challenged, in speaking of their eminent loss of outdoor heaters. Looking at the issue plainly, does it really make any sense to try to heat air in an unenclosed space for the sole benefit of alcoholics and inebriates?

Curt, Mora, MN USA

Question: What's only switched on for half the year, pumps hot air out into the atmosphere and damages the environment?

Answer: A Liberal Democrat MEP.

Yet another absurd motion - especially considering the statistics regarding Plasma TVs.

Brad H, Bristol, UK

5 patio heaters = 1 TV on standby? Where on earth do they get their figures? I've never come close to getting warmed-up by my TV set.

Global warming? How can you believe any of them?

tony, chichester,

Another own goal, now how about banning bonfires instead, which are perfectly legal!

paul, christchurch,, uk.

This is ridiculous. it's ok to ban them in spain, but in northern europe it is freezing on terraces and why should'nt we be allowed to enjoy the outside just as well? There are no real alternatives to outdoor heaters (elec or gas) so we are effectively told to stay inside or freeze. This is abusive and, in effect, not far off a curfew. Could these petty control freaks focus on the larger issues that are not freedom infringing for a change (and for which there ARE greener alternatives) Namely, C-A-R technology (d'uh) but also, as stated, lightbulbs, plasma screen, stand-by-modes.

Katy grand, london,

Lets hope that the heaters will stay, as a smoker I am already treated as a second class citizen and it would be an abuse of my human rights to have to stand outside where there was no shelter or heat.
The nanny state has already deemed it illegal for ALL pubs to be non smoking, although in Europe you can still find smoking pubs.
Just one other thing, if we all gave up smoking, who will pay all the tax income we smokers generate? Yes you've got it, all you bloody whingers who want smoking outlawed everywhere. Im sure some would soon change their tune when it starts costing them money!

Pete, St Albans, England

it is bad enough landlords not being allowed to have their pubs smoking or non-smoking,but this heater ban is ridiculous.
Miss hall is totally wrong as the facts presents themselves.

Anthony thompson, Bath, England

i smoke and drink in pubs
i agree fully with banning them .

people shoud learn to dress sensibly for cold or wet weather .

also if landlord did not turn up the heating so high inside the puubs to make people drink more then it wouldnt seem so cold when you go outside.

Ben Costigan, Bristol, uk