Three-year plan set to promote sports over obesity crisis fears

The new three-year plan to increase sport participation among residents while at home and at work in Ryedale is currently being drawn-up following a far-reaching public consultation.

Ryedale has struggled with soaring levels of obesity for years, with the level of childhood obesity recently found to be four per cent higher than the national average.

Ryedale District Council chiefs say the numbers have reduced slightly this year, although they remain stubbornly high.

But it is hoped the new Sport and Active Living Strategy for the area will have a marked impact on reducing obesity rates and creating a culture of regular exercise which will be passed on to the next generation.

Chris Chatten, Ryedale District Council community projects officer, said: “Obesity is still an issue and some of what we are doing will hopefully tackle that.

“This is part of a co-ordinated strategy and we are looking to involve the North Yorkshire Primary Care Trust as one of our key partners and link in with their own strategies on this.

“Exercise is a big part of that.

“It will be looking at what activities and facilities we will be developing across the district.

“Ryedale does lend itself to outdoor pursuits and activities, we want to make more of the routes we have got in terms of walking and cycling.

“A lot of people don’t realise what we have got in the district and across North Yorkshire.”

The first stage of the strategy, which is being developed by Ryedale District Council and the local community sports network Active Ryedale, involved seeking resident’s views on open space and sport and recreational facilities in the district.

Council officers have now drawn up the results of the initial public survey and the next stage of consultation has been launched to gather views from businesses regarding work-based physical activity as well as talking to local sports clubs.

The second-round of consultation will finish at the end of this month, with a draft version of the strategy hoped to be completed by the end of the year, before being implemented in 2012.

Coun James Fraser, member champion for sport and recreation, has welcomed the new strategy, saying: “The council wants to facilitate and engage with providers of sport and active recreation facilities to enable everybody in the Ryedale district to participate in either formal sports or lead a more active lifestyle, such as walking more regularly and cycling to work.”

The strategy follows on from a task force set up to tackle the obesity problem in Ryedale last year and review the soaring levels of obesity and why children and young people are particularly affected.

The study was conducted through the council’s influential scrutiny committee to look at ways of encouraging a healthier and more active lifestyle for the area’s residents.

National surveys have revealed that a staggering 35 per cent of children aged between 11 and 15 are overweight.

It has been estimated that two-thirds of youngsters will be overweight or obese by 2050.

In Ryedale, the level of childhood obesity is around four per cent higher than the national average

Health chiefs have warned that the current annual £186m bill of dealing with obesity in North Yorkshire is expected to increase further to £207m in 2015.

Meanwhile, Ryedale District Council has revealed it is bidding to host one of the international teams as part of the Rugby League World Cup in October/November 2013.

The council is proposing using Ampleforth College as a training camp and has now set up a Facebook page to promote the bid.