Sunbeds and local authorities

I see Sunderland is being targeted in a high profile campaign by Cancer Research UK http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wear/8544460.stm. This is a worthy campaign and if successful I expect other cities will also be targeted in a similar way.  More worrying is the promotion of sunbed use in local authority facilities such as leisure centres (see Cancer Research Uk policy statement here).  On this note, I found that my own local leisure centre in Washington is promoting sunbeds on their website as a facility available to use  (see here).  This in my mind is sending a mixed message to the general public, on the one hand, leisure centres promote fitness and wellbeing, on the other there is good evidence showing the dangers of sunbeds and the increase of skin cancer as a result of their use.  I wrote to my local MP (Sharon Hodgson) highlighting this paradox and received a heartening reply in which she is

"pleased to support the current Cancer Research UK campaign."

She has also agreed to contact Sunderland City Council to ask for clarification about their policy on sunbed use.
More to follow, I'm sure!.