A £16,000-a-year ‘walking developer’ is being recruited to get more Wolverhampton people to stretch their legs. The post was today condemned as a complete and utter waste of money by councillor.
He said the taxpayers’ cash would be better spent improving the health service or tackling obesity at an earlier age.
The full-time worker will liase with a walking co-ordinator over three years and is being funded by the Government’s All Saints and Blakenhall Community Development fund, a £53.5 million project aimed at rejuvenating the area over 10 years.
An advert in yesterday’s Express & Star said the successful candidate would: Lead safe, enjoyable group walks; recruit and support volunteer walk leaders; attend health fairs, community group meetings, promotional events, displays and “networking” events; keep accurate and timely records of all ABCD activity carried out using appropriate monitoring forms and computer database input; show a significant level of initiative in organising his or her workload.
But city councillor John Yardley, Conservative leisure and culture spokesman, said: “It’s a complete and utter waste of money.
“Look at all the health problems in Wolverhampton - the Eye Infirmary is being closed, we’re losing jobs at New Cross, the MRSA level is one of the highest in the country.
“It is an issue that people are getting overweight and I think the problem should be dealt with at schools with sport and healthy eating. But all of these jobs - like ‘five pieces of fruit officers’ - it’s just dogma.”
Three popular walks a week are held in Blakenhall’s Phoenix Park alone, and another takes place in Goldthorn Park.
Tim Clegg, executive director of ABCD, said: “This type of exercise has proven benefits in reducing the risks of dangerous conditions like obesity which are more prevalent in our area than the rest of the city.
“Scores of residents enjoy the social aspect of walking in a group.”
By Mike Woods
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