Council scheme aims to get people active

ALMOST half of East Cambridgeshire residents take no exercise and the figure rises to almost 75 per cent among the over 55s. Now an ambitious sports strategy is being launched in an attempt to reserve the trend. Council officials are hoping to receive a £

ALMOST half of East Cambridgeshire residents take no exercise and the figure rises to almost 75 per cent among the over 55s.

Now an ambitious sports strategy is being launched in an attempt to reserve the trend.

Council officials are hoping to receive a £30,000 grant from Sport England to ensure the plan is acted upon.

The Sport and Physical Activity Strategy

and Action plan was put before members of East Cambridgeshire District Council's community services committee last Wednesday.

The council identifed five aims:

n to develop and raise the profile of sport and physical activity

n to create a local sporting infrastructure that promotes sustainable participation

n to improve the health and well-being of local people

n to build safer and strong communities by using sport to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour

n to meet the needs of children and young people through sport.

Phillip Turner, East Cambridgeshire District Council's team leader for sport and leisure, said: "No one should feel they have to live in a gym five days a week, there are a wide variety of activities which you can partake in. You can go for walks, take the stairs rather than the lift, cycle to work rather than drive, or even become a coach or volunteer."

The action plan will include some of the work covered under the Healthy Living Project which is being wound up.