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Plans to overhaul play strategy are revealed By Danny Richardson KIRKLEES Council has outlined ambitious plans to overhaul its play strategy in a move that could see play areas across the region dramatically altered. Council bosses say the move is an attempt to combat child obesity and inactivity levels across the region, which costs the authority nearly £21m a year. But the draft proposal says most of the borough’s sites will see changes to how they are currently, with the sustainability of existing play areas to be assessed after the council admitted some are poor quality and expensive to maintain. Kirklees says its new strategy will see it launch more “wild play” facilities – areas with natural obstacles to encourage exploration,
imagination and discovery. The project also hopes to incorporate play equipment into green spaces, at the same time encouraging wildlife to blossom. The review will also consider bringing in playgrounds for senior citizens and play areas that parents and carers can use alongside their children. The move comes after figures revealed inactivity is a “major problem” within Kirklees, as the area ranks 114th out of the country’s 150 local authorities in terms of activity levels. The report – expected to be finalised and put to cabinet in early 2018 – cites statistics from the National Child Measurement Programme from 2015/2016. Figures state that 13.3 per cent of reception age children (four and five year olds)
measured as overweight in the study, above the national average of 12.8 per cent. In total, roughly one in five reception age children measured as either overweight or obese. The same applies to children in year six (10 and 11 year olds) where approximately one in three (35.9 per cent) measured as either overweight or obese. A 2014 study by health body UK Active estimated that the total cost of inactivity in Kirklees – that includes costs related to obesity – was £20,750,766, and the council says the new plan will help lower that cost. But Kirklees could also save money from growing maintenance fees by removing unsafe and unsustainable equipment from existing sites. Full story on page 5
October 2017
Thousands of foodies visited Holmfirth to celebrate its annual food and drink festival last month. And with nearly 80 stalls in the town centre, visitors were spoilt for choice when looking for tasty treats and delicious drinks. Full story and more photographs on page 4.
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