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News

Parents Challenged To Walk To School

The Borough of Poole’s Transportation Services and Poole Primary Care Trust are joining forces to promote the benefits of walking to school to parents and children at Merley First School as part of Walk to School Week on 22 – 26 May 2006.

Walk to School is a national campaign that asks parents, pupils and teachers to incorporate regular physical activity into their daily lives by walking to and from school whenever possible.

As part of this campaign, healthcare professionals from Poole Primary Care Trust will be inviting parents to sign up to the National Step-o-Meter Programme. Those willing participants will be issued with a step-o-meter and given specific targets to encourage parents to increase their daily number of steps when taking their children to school. In addition, they will be given health and fitness advice for both themselves and their children.

The Council’s Transportation Services team will also be on hand to provide advice on suitable parking places with safe walking routes to Merley First School to help ease traffic congestion outside the school and make the area safer for children.

The Mayor of Poole, Councillor Judy Butt said: “With the increasing problem of obesity in children it is important that both parents and children learn how much fun keeping fit and healthy can be. This initiative is a great way of showing youngsters just how easy it is to take regular exercise and will also equip them with road awareness skills keeping them safe and giving their parents peace of mind”.

Councillor Ron Parker, Portfolio Holder for the Local Economy said: “We are delighted to be playing an active role in this initiative. Traffic congestion in and around school areas is a risk to children and parents and a nuisance to local residents. By supporting Walk to School Week in this way we can help provide alternative solutions to the traditional school run and help parents and kids get more active in the process.”

Janice Childs, Acting Assistant Director (Public Health) for Poole Primary Care Trust says:
“This is a very exciting venture with our colleagues in Transportation Services. The pedometer programme will encourage parents at Merley First School as part of the National Healthy Schools Programme, to walk to school, which in turn will encourage their own children to ‘step up’ their physical activity levels. This can only be to the good in terms of health impact, alertness and a distraction from the stress of driving! Walking to school is an opportunity to get outdoors, enjoy the natural environment – and a proven way to relieve stress".

Nick Ellis, Travel Adviser, Transportation Services, Borough of Poole 01202 262017