Surveys have revealed problems of obesity and unhealthy lifestyles among children and young people in Sandwell. Recently, a report to Sandwell council’s children’s services scrutiny board, revealed that almost one in four of all children in school reception classes, was overweight, growing to 41% of children in year 6 classes. The children’s scrutiny board rightly expressed its concern at the statistics.
Obesity, lack of exercise and fast food diets are ticking time bombs likely to produce future health problems and result in greater demands on the NHS with escalating consequent costs.
Since 2015 the local authority has supported activity schemes for children and young people in its parks during the summer school holidays. These activities as well as promoting exercise and outdoor pursuits seem to have had an effect on anti-social behaviour by providing a recreation outlet for young people. While the schemes have been running, reports of anti-social behaviour to the police have fallen by about 25%.
The need for these facilities and the actual and potential benefit obtained should be enough to ensure they continue. But the council cabinet member for leisure, Cllr. Richard Marshall has other ideas. He says the scheme “”is not value for money” though it is unclear how he has reached this conclusion. Perhaps it’s just another example of Sandwell council refusing to spend modest sums on popular and productive events while splurging money on unnecessary vanity projects in which there is little public interest or benefit.
Dare one mention the £millions spent on Lightwoods Park since Sandwell took over responsibility for it from Birmingham City Council and where a Richard Marshall is Chairman of the Friends, a Marie Marshall is/was secretary and a Lucy Marshall is/was events officer ably assisted by Labour Cllr Bob Piper whose ward (the same ward which has leader Cllr Steve Eling representing it) is next to the park?