Active Reading consultation

Overview

We want to help people who live and work in Reading choose a healthy, active lifestyle and have access to the support they need. To help us do that, we are launching a two-month public consultation exercise where we are asking people what would help them lead more active lives and how the council can help them do that.

One of the most important things we can do as a council is to help people lead more active and healthy lives. We know there are many residents who enjoy participating in sports and being active, whether it's a regular swim, taking part in team sports or simply a weekly walk around a local park. Regular exercise helps keep people healthier and happier.

We also know that there are lots of people in Reading who are not active. One in three adults in our town don't even take part in the minimum recommended 30 minutes of physical activity a week. Obesity in our town - particularly amongst young people - is a real concern. It remains one of our health priorities.

Leisure isn't just about sport, it can be anything from walking to work, cycling, taking part in a dance class or trying a new activity like yoga.

As part of the Active Reading consultation, we are particularly keen to hear from people who don't currently lead active lives. If that is you or your family, we want to know how we can help you to get you more active and how can we encourage you to try new sports or activities. If you already take part in sport or physical activity, we want to know what works for you and what you would like to see improved.

The council is fully committed to providing modern and much-improved facilities for swimmers, keep fit and sports enthusiasts in Reading. That includes a £30 million investment in two new swimming pools for Reading.  Plans to deliver the modern facilities are already underway and we hope to be in a position to appoint the new leisure operator in autumn 2019 to take work forward as quickly as possible.

In addition, a significant finding from our recent Public Health Services consultation, which launched in 2018, identified how Reading's range of parks and open spaces were particularly important in providing a place for people to exercise and improve their wellbeing. The council is committed to investing £2.8 million in parks and play improvements across Reading, including enhancements to make playgrounds more accessible, as part of the capital investment programme over the next 5 years, with £1.6 million approved for 2019-2022.

We thank you in advance for taking the time to complete our survey. We will use the results to tailor future leisure services and facilities and to help us increase people's participation in physical activity. We will also create a strategy for the future of our sports and leisure offer in Reading which will help us to access funding to support the development of new facilities.