Walking is one of the most accessible ways of getting active, the Ramblers said
Local councils must recognise the value of walking to England’s health and promote ways to get people back on their feet.
That’s the view of Britain’s biggest walking charity as the Government shifts health promotion responsibilities to local bodies.
The move is part of the controversial Health and Social Care Act and means local health and wellbeing boards will now be responsible in England for improving the public’s health.
But the Ramblers said they face an uphill struggle, with only a third of England’s adults keeping active enough to stay healthy, while a third do less than 30 minutes’ physical activity a week.
Inactivity increases the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes by 25 to 30 per cent and can shorten lifespan by three to five years. “Our sedentary lifestyles are literally killing us early,” the charity said.
“The most likely way for everyone to achieve the recommended levels of physical activity is through walking.
“Almost all people, regardless of their existing fitness levels, age or finances can step out of their front door and start walking, with huge benefits for social cohesion as well as physical and mental wellbeing.
“But more needs to be done to encourage people to take those first steps.
“The Ramblers are calling on councils to recognise the value of walking by investing in the places we walk to enable more people to walk to school and work, increasing access to local green spaces and supporting projects which help people to get walking.
“Getting everyone more active is vital for our health but it’s also good for the public purse.
“The estimated cost of physical inactivity is a worrying £10bn pounds from NHS services, lost work days and early death. Whereas recent studies have shown that every £1 spent on a health walk scheme saves the local NHS £7.
Nicky Philpott, Ramblers director of campaigns and policy, added: “People are literally losing years off their lives due to inactivity.
“We know that one of the most accessible ways for people to get active is through walking.
“With responsibility for promoting public health moving to councils now is the opportunity to tie together local transport, planning and health policy to create an environment where we all walk more.
“We’re urging the new health and wellbeing boards to put resources into projects which help people to start walking and to put infrastructure in place which makes it easier for people to walk in their local area; helping people to get more active.”
The Ramblers said they are already working to get more people walking by organising thousands of walks a year and hosting Britain’s biggest short walks festival, Get Walking Week in May.
They are also working with Macmillan Cancer Support to run Walking for Health, England’s largest network of health walk schemes, helping people to take their first steps to a more active lifestyle.
