Health and wellbeing ideas in Exmouth Littleham | Opinion

Welcome readers to my first article of 2022. At this time, we think of making, if we have not already done so, New Year resolutions and several come to mind including those involving getting fit.

We can see that health and well-being are part of the council's strategy as the service plan notes: 'We work hard to find ways of increasing access to and understanding of reliable health information across East Devon, so that individuals can make healthy choices about their lifestyles and for people they care for.' For me, the most important aspect is the ability of individuals to make healthy choices within their budget.

In Littleham, we are very fortunate to have plenty of types of exercise available to choose from. We have the public footpaths around the Maer Valley which instantly take you from the built-up area into what can be described as the open countryside.

You can also now take part in one of the three new 'Green Health Route' walks which offer two different nature walks of different lengths, starting from the front door of the five surgeries in Exmouth: Imperial, Haldon, Claremont, Rolle and Raleigh. You can read more about it here.

Then we have nearby sports and fitness facilities provided by the Devoncourt Hotel in Douglas Avenue where its members can enjoy the use of the putting lawn, tennis court, weekly fitness classes and swimming facilities. I know that local residents and TARA members were delighted that the recent threat to these facilities has been removed with the withdrawal of the planning application.

A little further round the corner is the Cranford Sports Club, a not-for-profit community amateur sports club with a wide range of facilities: a well-equipped gym, fitness classes, tennis, badminton and swimming. These facilities are available to members as well as local organisations who share their values such as swimming classes for the Deaf Academy and Parkinson's support group activities.

Currently, they are also helping an amazing team of disabled veterans who are training to navigate the coast of Canada by kayak to raise money for the charity The Not Forgotten who have been supporting veterans since 1920.

Then nearby there is the Queens Drive fitness space which sadly had a bad 2021 as a recent EDDC report indicated: 'There are issues both with drainage causing boggy puddles but also rutting, both causing health & safety concerns. There is also a lack of lighting and issues with people walking across the site, despite clear signage. There is one possible interested party for next season, but no other expressions of interest have been received. It is therefore, quite possible that this grass will remain unlet for 2022.'

Naturally, this news is a bitter disappointment but as readers will know I was not in favour of this idea in the first place, as you can see by reading this article that this fitness space is in competition with so many other sporting facilities available in both Littleham and throughout Exmouth with the LED facilities.

Finally, I should just say that having mentioned the LED, I hope that it will continue to play an active role in health and fitness but it is of concern to EDDC to see that the Ways to Wellbeing programme (W2W), a social prescribing scheme, finished at the end of 2021.

Readers may not be aware that this scheme is considered by LED to be a highly successful one and a 'social value' report previously seen by the LED Forum had outlined the considerable benefits that it generated. The LED Forum was keen to retain this scheme and a letter has been sent to the lead GP, so this is a very positive step by EDDC which is in keeping with the council's overall health and wellbeing strategy as has been discussed.

The next LED Forum meeting on Zoom which I [attended] as a member [was] on Tuesday 25 January at 6pm should you wish to receive a progress update.

To find your councillor click here.