Are Atherstone's child obesity issues likely to signal a fast track for 'bikes-on-the-NHS' scheme?

PM COMMITTED TO IDENTIFYING AREAS WITH 'POOR HEALTH AND LOW PHYSICAL ACTIVITY RATES' FOR PILOT PROJECT

HUNDREDS OF PARTICIPANTS NORMALLY LINING UP AT THE START CAN ENJOY TAKING THEIR TIME THIS YEAR, AND NO ONE NEEDS TO WATCH YOU DOING IT

ATHERSTONE'S county-high record for reception-year child obesity could lead to local GPs handing out "cycling prescriptions" as part of a Government-backed health scheme.

Bikes are to be made available on the NHS in the "biggest and boldest plans" to boost active travel, Boris Johnson has announced.

The Prime Minister is committed to identifying areas with poor health and low physical activity rates to take part in pilot schemes where GPs will be encouraged to prescribe cycling where appropriate.

Patients will be able to access bikes through participating surgeries while road safety improvement schemes, such as segregated cycle lanes, low traffic neighbourhoods and secure cycle parking, could be introduced to boost cycling up-take in such areas.

Atherstone and Hartshill may well be considered to fit that description – after a five-year study saw the two areas leading a 22-strong Warwickshire table of four and five-year-olds considered obese or severely obese at the start of schooling.

The move comes after Boris Johnson revealed his own brush with Covid-19, which saw him require intensive care in April, convinced him of the need to tackle Britain's bulging waistlines.

In addition to the issues involving the town's youngsters – where one in five fell into the category – in 2018/19, a joint strategic needs assessment identified one in nine North Warwickshire adults as obese while up to seven in 10 adults across the country were classified as overweight.

Mr Johnson also revealed on Tuesday that the £25 million-delayed scheme offering £50 vouchers towards the cost of fixing a bike is to go live.

Thousands of miles of new protected cycle lanes, cycle training for any child or adult, and the creation of the UK's first zero-emission transport city are also part of the plans to promote cycling and walking.

Other measures to raise the wellbeing of pedestrians and cyclists include strengthening the Highway Code, improving legal protections, increasing lorry safety standards and working with the police and retailers to tackle bike thefts.

The plans will be funded by a £2 billion investment announced in February.

The announcement comes after the Government launched its Better Health obesity strategy on Monday.

Mr Johnson said: "From helping people get fit and healthy and lowering their risk of illness, to improving air quality and cutting congestion, cycling and walking have a huge role to play in tackling some of the biggest health and environmental challenges that we face.

"But to build a healthier, more active nation, we need the right infrastructure, training and support in place to give people the confidence to travel on two wheels.

"That's why now is the time to shift gears and press ahead with our biggest and boldest plans yet to boost active travel - so that everyone can feel the transformative benefits of cycling."

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said this is a "once in a lifetime opportunity to create a shift in attitudes" to make cycling or walking part of daily routines.

"The measures we've set out today in this revolutionary plan will do just that," he added.

An initial 50,000 Fix Your Bike vouchers were made available online shortly before midnight on Tuesday on a first come, first served basis.

People who obtain a voucher by clicking here will be able to save £50 from the cost of repairing a bike at participating bike shops.

That will typically cover the bill for a standard service and the replacement of a basic component such as an inner tube or cable.

Halfords said it has thousands of slots available each day for customers to bring their bike into stores for a free 32-point health check to assess potential faults which could be rectified under the scheme.

Up to half a million of the vouchers to help the public "drag bikes out of retirement" were due to be issued from June as part of Government efforts to promote more two-wheeled journeys as lockdown eases.

During a Downing Street coronavirus briefing on May 23, the Transport Secretary said the initiative would be "available from next month" and help relieve pressure on public transport, improve public health and reduce the "hidden killer" of air pollution.

But the deadline was missed, with the Department for Transport saying earlier this month the scheme would only begin when maintenance shops could handle the expected spike in demand.

The Fix Your Bike initiative forms part of the PM's plans for a "new golden age for cycling".