Residents and businesses encouraged to help audit their area to make Wolverhampton Fitter for Walking
On Thursday 17th September, the footpaths around Hilton Hall Recreation Field will be put under scrutiny as residents and businesses join forces with national charity Living Streets to help make the area Fitter for Walking.
When: Thursday 17th September, 10:00
Where: Car Park of Hilton Hall, Hilton Road, Lanesfield, Wolverhampton, WV4 6DR
Local residents and businesses are invited to join National Charity Living Streets in a Community Street Audit as part of the charity’s Fitter for Walking project. The Community Street Audit is part of an ongoing project in Wolverhampton to help people get passionate about their local area, thanks to funding from the Big Lottery Fund and in partnership with Wolverhampton City Council and Wolverhampton Primary Care Trust.
Hema Kasi-Patel, Fitter for Walking Coordinator for the West Midlands will be leading the Community Street Audit on Thursday which will enable local people to have a say about their area and suggest ways in which it could be improved for the benefit of everyone. The route will take in key footpaths and access to the Hilton Hall Recreational Fields and the site of importance for nature conservation, and investigate how the area could be made better for those on foot. The Hilton Hall Management Committee will also be using the audit as a chance to gain walk leader training so that they are able to offer and deliver walks around the area in the future.
Living Streets, celebrating its 80th birthday this year, is the national charity that works to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets around the UK. Fitter for Walking is part of a group of projects that will be helping 2 million people nationwide become more physically active, by incorporating regular walking or cycling into their daily lives. Wolverhampton City Council and Wolverhampton Primary Care Trust are official partners in the Fitter for Walking project and are eager to work with Living Streets and residents to encourage more people to get walking locally.
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets, said:
“This is a very exciting project for us, and we are really pleased to be working with local residents in the area.
“We want to make a real, lasting difference to Wolverhampton by finding out from residents themselves how they want their neighbourhood to change, and then helping them do it. Our streets should be accessible to all of us, without the threat of uneven pavements and excess clutter, and by making changes; we believe we can encourage more people to walk regularly, reducing congestion and creating a stronger sense of community.”
Local residents and businesses are welcome to attend the Community Street Audit on Thursday 17th September and can find out more information by contacting Hema Kasi-Patel on 07595 781875, or emailing hema.kasi-patel@livingstreets.org.uk
Published by: Travel Actively on Friday October 09 2009
