School sport zones boost for kids
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
13/01/2009
Sports facilities in the borough’s parks are being opened up to Hammersmith and Fulham schools in an effort to boost the fitness of local kids.
Plans to create four ‘school sport zones’ were announced by the council this week.
The zones, in Hurlingham Park, South Park, Wormwood Scrubs and Linford Christie Stadium, will guarantee schools access to sports facilities - like football pitches, tennis courts and basket ball courts - at ‘off-peak’ times when residents use them the least.
High land values and a lack of space mean that many inner city schools - especially in small boroughs like H&F - struggle to provide all of the sports facilities they need on their own site.
The shortage of decent inner city sports facilities has been weighing on many parents’ minds as the problem of childhood obesity continues to grow across Britain. But the council has vowed to give local pupils a fitter future by allowing schools to pre-book sports facilities in parks which would otherwise be lying idle.
Councillor Paul Bristow, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, says: “I am tremendously pleased that we have found a way to help our school children get fitter by increasing the use of the sports facilities in our parks during the quieter times of the day - like some weekday mornings.
“It is not realistic to have big sports pitches in inner city schools anymore but by creating these innovative sport zones there will be ample facilities to keep our school children fit and healthy.”
The concept of a school sport zone was established in 2007 after former Olympic medallist, Roger Black, visited Hurlingham Park. The successful pilot scheme allowed local schools to book high quality sports facilities within walking distance of the school gates.
The council has also struck a deal with the new Hammersmith Academy, which is due to open in 2011, to pre-book sports facilities at Ravenscourt Park.
Councillor Antony Lillis, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, says: “At the moment some of the sports facilities in our parks are underused on weekday mornings and at the same time we know that children need more exercise to remain fit and healthy.
“By actively encouraging schools to use these facilities, which they cannot provide on site, we get the win-win situation of maximising the use of our parks while giving our school children a welcome fitness boost.”
Schools will be charged by the hour for the time they pre-book and this money will be reinvested to improve the borough’s parks further.
