The idea of a smoke-free zone encompassing streets around Digby Regional High School has run into a roadblock in a town council committee.

The town’s street, sewer and public property committee has recommended against the requested bylaw, deciding it would be too difficult to enforce. The decision echoes comments in January by town mayor Frank Mackintosh who argued it was better not to have a bylaw than have one that isn’t enforced.

School principal Ben Elms had requested the ‘no smoking’ area that would encompass both sides of West, Mount, Church and King streets. The zone would have included property used by an adult education centre, a corner store and a row of apartments.

Tri-County Regional School Board bans smoking on school property, but nearby areas have become smoking areas for students, many of whom are too young to purchase cigarettes.

“It’s not just a student issue,” said Elms in January. “We have any number of adults passing through the school grounds. The driveway is a thoroughfare from one side of town to the next.”