Around 30% of adults in England don’t do the recommended amount of weekly exercise. Alongside providing access to high-quality sports facilities, the design of where we live and work can play a vital role in keeping communities active.”
Traditional planning has led to rural areas being disconnected and only accessible by car. By linking villages via a network of cycling and walking routes, villages could collectively grow and become viable and revitalised communities that are less reliant on the car.
As Oxfordshire grows, we must be smart about where and how we build. It’s not sustainable to continue building low density, suburban-style housing developments that are poorly designed.
We need urgent action to improve the quality of our waterways. Healthy rivers and streams increase biodiversity and leisure opportunities, providing economic and health benefits to local communities.
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of access to nature for our physical and mental wellbeing. We must protect and enhance the countryside.”