AFTER a two-year battle, smokers will light up their cigarettes again when dining outdoors in Parramatta, after the council surrendered to restaurateurs concerned about lost profits.

''We are so relieved - this is great news,'' said Omar Besiso, of the Parramatta Business Freedom Association, a group representing 50 businesses. ''It was never fair that customers could just leave and go to restaurants in Granville or Merrylands, where they could smoke.

Illustration: Rocco Fazzari

''You can't stop someone from smoking. We just didn't want to be disadvantaged because our council won't allow it.''

Cancer Council NSW was shocked by the council's backflip and said it ignored the dangers of second-hand smoke.