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The Lothian Cycle Campaign |
Additions and Updates to this site http://www.spokes.org.uk
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The Lothian Cycle Campaign |
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Web Page 3
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Editor:
Dave duFeu .Printer: Barr Printers Print run: 11,000
Copyright
details:SPOKES may be
quoted freely, if the source is acknowledged and our address
given.
Spokes made a major submission to the Physical Activity Task Force [PATF] consultation on a physical activity (PA) strategy for Scotland [Spokes 82]. Our paper (click here) is on our website or send us an SAE. We called for...
Many PA strategies are being developed at local level, but this is happening in a multitude of ways. In some cases (eg West Lothian) PA is seen in a wide sense, whereas others such as Edinburgh display a more restricted insight.
In Edinburgh the Recreation Department is developing what it calls a 'Sport and Physical Activity' strategy, whose vision is "Edinburgh to become the most physically active city in Europe by 2010". Unfortunately, despite this bold aim, the whole strategy, and the consultation leading up to it, are almost entirely about sport and physical recreation. It is possibly an excellent strategy for sport development, but its aim and title are wholly misleading - it is patently not a physical activity strategy for the city. Meanwhile the Council Local Transport Strategy [www.edinburgh.gov.uk] highlights the health benefits of physical activity, and the draft Access Strategy [luc@glasgow.landuse.co.uk] stresses 'encouraging healthier lifestyles'. Spokes has asked council leader Cllr Donald Anderson that the City draw up a corporate PA strategy, with chapters for transport, sport & physical recreation, and other departments.
This is not just pedantry! The Scottish Executive is putting funds, staff and priority into promoting a more active population. If the funding bids and projects coming up from councils are all about sport, leisure centres and school PE, then that is where all the new resources will go.
Even West Lothian's draft strategy [flora.jackson@ westlothian.gov.uk 01506.419666], which more widely covers relevant interests, in practice focuses too much on PA as an extra, requiring time, rather than as part of everyday life.
The PATF report [see top of page] includes examples of how different council departments should be involved...
A further vital aspect is that strategies are carried out, not just talked about. This needs public money and ser-ious political determination. Therefore councils, which are publicly accountable, must have a lead role, perhaps along with the NHS. There must be good involvement with local communities, business, etc, but councils and NHS must have responsibility to ensure implementation of strategies.
There is already a Lothian PA strategy [Partnership in Action, 2000] prepared by a NHS-led collaboration with councils and others. It seems well known within Lothian Health, but how far do council departments even know of it, let alone feel responsible for effective implementation? It provides guidance for councils - but not responsibility.
If these issues concern you,
please write to the leader of your council [in Edinburgh,
Cllr Donald Anderson, City Chambers, High Street EH1 1YJ]. Ask
what the council is doing to produce a physical activity strategy
which all relevant departments are committed to
implement.
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Professor Andrew Prentice of London School of Hygiene has predicted increasing numbers of children dying before their parents, due to severe obesity [H 10.9.02]. Already 20% of Europeans are clinically obese, and 28% in the US. This could lead to life expectancy falling by 9 years.
People today are not intrinsically more lazy or gluttonous but "have been ambushed by an environment never seen before" based on high-energy foods and physical inactivity. "If you are consuming more energy than you use, obesity is the inevitable result". Every medical firm is working on an obesity pill, but that is not the answer. Rather, he said, there must be action in every walk of life: transport policy, food, advertising, and safety for kids to walk to school.
Some recent developments... [info from 0131.624.7660]
Edinburgh Council's New Transport Initiative, with road-tolls to reduce congestion and to fund transport investment, has met a new delay. The recent consultation [Spokes 82] showed huge support for improved public transport, and a slight margin for tolls, but misleading opposition publicity gave a different impression. Also, a poor Labour by-election result in an area potentially affected by tolling has frightened councillors about the May 2003 elections.
Politicking has been even worse in West Lothian, where a close SNP/Labour balance means parties compete to be the most anti-toll. Council-funded press adverts there stated quite falsely that most toll income would be spent in the city centre - and omitted all mention of local benefits such as an Edinburgh-Livingston tram, big bus improvements, and lower congestion for those entering the city by car.
The consultation included
voluntarily-completed forms and a separate market-research sample.
The table shows those backing tolls (one or two cordons) and those
against all tolls. When adjusted for the fact that non-car-owners
were found to be under-represented, the results were even more
favourable to tolls than the raw figures in the table.
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% for/against tolls |
voluntary forms |
market research |
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Edinburgh residents |
49% / 42% |
52% / 39% |
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Outside Edinburgh |
44% / 44% |
42% / 44% |
Edinburgh Council has now decided to
continue detailed planning, and then put the results to a referendum
- which we suspect will not be till after the May elections.
Please help!! - Remind councillors and MSPs that they must
give a lead, that head-in-the-sand opponents have no constructive
alternative, and that, despite negative press coverage, the actual
consultation results were positive.
More info: 07789.367010 www.thebikestation.org.uk Opening hours: Mon 10-1, Tue 1-8, Sat 1-4
Castlecliff Bike Workshop is now The Bike Station - with 2500ft2 premises underneath Waverley Station.
The Bike Station fixes donated bikes for community use, sells bikes to help cover costs, and will help you mend your bike. They need bikes, bits and willing-to-learn volunteers.
Thanks to dedicated and impressive early volunteer work, and a startup grant from Spokes, Castlecliff brought cycling opportunities to schools, excluded groups, and the general public. This record of achievement enabled them to win funds for an office manager, outreach worker and website manager, plus bike buses and load-carrying bike-trailers to promote outreach workshops. An application for a health-promotion worker is now underway. Special thanks go to Network Rail [formerly Railtrack]; and we hope this linkup will lead to increased rail use and to fruitful cooperation during the impending massive Waverley redevelopment.
The Bike Station was opened by
Edinburgh Central MSP Sarah Boyack and Railtrack's Jane
Lorimer on 14.10.02.
CONSULTATIONS
Please comment - and copy your letter or email to Spokes.
This consultation is termed by TRANSform Scotland "a mammoth flag-waving exercise for the air transport industry", not recognising the impact on climate-change of uncontrolled air travel growth, or the £7bn p.a. subsidy due to tax exemptions on fuel, new aircraft, etc. The plans are reminiscent of discredited 1980s/90s 'predict and provide' road-building [LTT 1.8.02, STR summer 02]. It is also now years since the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution [18th report - Transport & Environment] stated "an unquestioning attitude to future air travel growth, and an acceptance that demand for additional facilities must be met, are incompatible with the aims of sustainable development."
Consultation ends 30 November. www.airconsult.gov.uk. For an alternative view see: www.airwatch.org.uk and/or 'Aviation's Economic Downside' at www.greenparty.org.uk.
Consultation document: www.roads.dft.gov.uk/consult/ mobiles/index.htm. Email: roadsafety@dft.gsi.gov.uk. Phone: 020 7944 2046. One question is why only ban handheld, when it appears that hands-free are also dangerous [H 22.3.02] - and presumably phone use could be confirmed by company records. Consultation ends 25 November.
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