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Read the statement from Sport and Recreation Alliance CEO, Lisa Wainwright MBE.
“We are disappointed to see the Government's proposal to remove various statutory consultees – including Sport England – from planning decisions in England.
We, of course, recognise the need to build more homes and are wholly supportive of the Government’s mission to boost growth.
But the proposals as conceived risk being a case of ‘cutting off your nose to spite your face’.
The UK is already markedly less active than countries like Finland or Ireland. And low physical activity levels already cost our economy £7.4bn, with long-term sickness and childhood obesity acting as a major drag on the economy and the NHS and putting our children’s health at risk. It is therefore essential we preserve and grow places for people to participate in grassroots community sport and recreation, and safeguard that within our planning system.
Planning applications must give proper and due consideration to fostering healthier, happier, more active lives in communities across the country.
Removing Sport England and other statutory consultees might have, at best, a marginal impact on speeding up planning decisions.
But it risks having a significant detrimental effect on the UK’s long-term growth prospects, as well as the quality of neighbourhoods and the activity levels of our children.
We will be working closely with members and sector partners to engage in the Government’s formal consultation in due course.”
International Women’s Day serves as a reminder of the importance of gender equality, not just in society at large, but in all sectors, including sport and recreation. While progress has been made in many areas, there remains a glaring need for greater representation of women in leadership roles, particularly on boards and as chairs of sports organisations.
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On Sunday 2 March, thousands of people around the country put on their dancing shoes for the first National Dance Day as part of Angela Rippon CBE’s Let’s Dance! campaign, supported by the Sport and Recreation Alliance.
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Angela Rippon CBE, alongside Lisa Wainwright MBE, CEO of the Sport and Recreation Alliance, the City of London Corporation and a whole host of Strictly Come Dancing stars, are officially launching Let’s Dance! at the City of London’s Guildhall on Saturday 8 February.
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