Work Underway for a Healthier Tamworth

A new healthy lifestyle publicity campaign, more health and fitness sessions and exploring the option for another outdoor gym are all options Conservative controlled Tamworth Borough Council is looking into.

One of the authority’s priorities is to create a safe environment in which local people can reach their full potential and live longer, healthier lives.

Four recommendations (see below) were put to the council’s Cabinet by the Council’s Community & Wellbeing Scrutiny, following its recent meeting to discuss obesity issues in the borough.

The in-depth report – written and presented by Cllr Andrew James – saw the committee Chairman Cllr Ken Gant recommend to Cabinet further work be undertaken in a bid to improve Tamworth’s health.

This work will take place alongside the existing wide-range of health initiatives the Borough Council runs to help people to get fit.

The Borough Council already runs 15 fitness and exercise classes each week, free swimming for all at Wilnecote, subsidises public swimming at the SnowDome, provides three outdoor gyms and numerous other initiatives and programmes available to everyone.

According to Cllr James: “We are already working closely with other organisations to tackle obesity, as we know the devastating impact it can have on people’s lives.

“One of the Council’s priorities is to ‘be healthier and safer’; therefore introducing additional initiatives to encourage people to become more active is very important to us.”

The council does not receive any government funding for public health initiatives, but does invest in working with residents and providing initiatives to improve public health and to increase safety – singly and by working closely with other organisations.

Recommendations put forward:

• Tamworth Borough Council to fund the employment of at least one Health Officer for a period of 12 Months
• Tamworth Borough Council to promote a Healthy Lifestyle poster/leaflet campaign, in conjunction with Staffordshire County Council, across the town
• Community and Leisure services hold fitness classes in the town centre utilising the canopy or the Castle Grounds
• Cabinet fund one more outdoor gym in one of the social housing areas

Current projects to increase access to exercise and health education include:

• Three free outdoor gyms in the Castle Grounds, Wigginton Park and Dosthill Park
• Free swimming for all at Wilnecote leisure centre
• Structured exercise programmes for people referred by their GP
• Zumba sessions
• Nordic walking, which is the fastest growing leisure activity in the world
• Buggy fitness for new mums

Details of fitness classes run throughout the borough are available at www.tamworth.gov.uk or contact the Sports Development Team on 01827 709316.