Greenwich Council spend more money on health strategies – while neglecting public space

Greenwich’s Cabinet are next week due to look at yet another strategy drawn up featuring a “Physical Activity and Sport Strategy and Action Plan“.

It’s the latest in a long line of similar strategies. These things are ten a penny for the authority. Healthy living and green strategies abound over recent years with little discernible difference alongside in putting effort and money into improving walking links and pedestrian space in much of the borough.

Money for parks? Who needs that? A grand total of 0.3% of developer income allocated to parks and open space last year is enough I’m sure.

And money for better streets to encourage walking and healthy living? Nah. Let’s spend less than every other London council – whether Labour or Tory – and then offer no commitment to use developer income beyond this year.

Now that a comparable list of income to be spent on public realm and street schemes has expanded let’s look at how boroughs compare:

• Greenwich – £206k (nothing confirmed after this year)
• Lewisham – £1.33m
• Lambeth – £1.2m
• Southwark – £765k
• Ealing – £766k
• Brent – £6 million
• Camden – £5.26m
• Hounslow – £5.3m
• Hammersmith & Fulham – £27.2m (!)
• Bromley – £390k

When more boroughs reveal spending I’ll update totals on future posts.

I’m sure report after report provides activity for employees (or external consultants) but when will that actually translate into focusing time and money on taking action to improve the borough?

It’s also unclear how an action plan on physical activity matches increased swimming charges at the Eltham Centre by up to 60% earlier this year.