ROCHFORD District Council is seeking to tackle obesity by encouraging more people to make use of our parks and open spaces.

The authority has developed a new ‘Open Spaces Strategy’ to entice more people into our green spaces, such as Hockley Woods and Cherry Orchard Jubilee Country Park, in order to lead a more active lifestyle. This in turn will help to promote social inclusion, by ensuring we have pleasant open spaces near our homes for neighbours to meet.

The council will also be seeking to implement new initiatives in the future such as circus skills workshops, woodcrafts, bouncy castles, outdoor adventure skills, fitness classes and artificial ice rinks at appropriate sites to encourage visitors. It will also be working with partners to increase the sporting opportunities available.

This is particularly important at a time when obesity costs more to the public purse than smoking, and is set to overtake it as Britain’s biggest killer in 10 to 15 years if current trends persist.

Rochford District Council’s Portfolio holder for the Environment, Councillor Keith Gordon, said: “We recognise that our open spaces are a powerful weapon in the fight against obesity and ill-health. This strategy will give people every opportunity to lead a less sedentary lifestyle, by encouraging them out into our beautiful parks and open spaces. It’s all about making it as appealing as possible for people to go for a walk, play football, exercise, have a chat with their neighbours, or simply reduce their stress levels by enjoying the surroundings.”

The strategy also promotes bio-diversity and will manage and enhance areas of regionally scarce and important woodland, such as Betts Wood, Hockley Woods, New England Woods and Rawreth Hall Woods, for future generations to enjoy and learn from. It will ensure that our sites are maintained to a high standard and are clean, safe and welcoming. This will include seeking to ‘design out’ antisocial behaviour, using practices such as avoiding narrow ‘corridor’ areas of landscape and keeping sight lines clear by avoiding high hedges.

The focus will be on preserving and joining the various assets of The Rochford District’s landscape. This would include working with partners to develop and promote footpaths, cycle-routes and bridleways within the district. The council will also seek to acquire the woodland and car park at Bullwood Hall, with the long-term aim of introducing new activities.

Councillor Gordon added: “The benefits of joining up the assets of the Rochford District’s landscape, such as woodland, farmland, lowland marsh, creeks and mudflats, towns and villages, are two-fold. Firstly, it will ensure that we have a haven for wildlife of which we can be proud. Secondly, it will involve the linking of footpaths, cycle routes and bridleways so that it will be much easier for residents and visitors to make the most of the open spaces on offer. The aim is to ensure we have a beautiful and interesting place to live, work and visit, both now and for future generations to come.’”

Throughout the process the council will continue its support for Friends Groups and seek to encourage the set-up of new groups that wish to help in improving their local parks. The plans also involve engagement with local community and user groups on proposals that change the use of or significantly alter the appearance of parks and open spaces.

The authority will also be working with volunteer groups to identify funding opportunities to enhance these green spaces, while also minimising running costs and maximising value for money. Any opportunities for income generation would be considered after presentation of a detailed business plan, consideration of impact and risks, and consultation with public space users.