As the outdoor gym goes into Short Heath Park on Hawthorne Road it becomes obvious that Labour’s cuts have taken their toll on other key elements of the Green Pathways Health Trail linking green spaces across Willenhall.

A report to last night’s Willenhall Area Panel highlighted that foot-way links on and between the following sites were being improved:

• Short Heath Park – Hawthorne Road
• Coppice Farm Neighbourhood Park – Coppice Farm Way
• Brackendale Green – Stroud Avenue, Pennine Way
• Railway Walk – Forest Gate to Lichfield Road
• Littleton Road Playing Field – Brereton Road

What was missing from the detail was the work that had been planned for “The Clay Hill” next to the Allens Centre, Hilton Road, and the link from the Wyrley and Essington Canal through Five Fields and onto Fibbersley Nature Reserve in Willenhall South.

After taking control of Walsall Council back in August last year Labour put a stop on many capital projects planned by the Coalition. The Willenhall Green Spaces Health Trail Project (a major scheme introduced by the Liberal Democrats within the Coalition designed to get people healthier by being more active) was one of the projects stalled by the Labour Administration’s review.

Following pressure by Willenhall Liberal Democrats work on the Green Spaces Health Trail Project restarted in the autumn but not before Labour had shaved over £20,000 off its budget.

“It’s a real pity that Labour didn’t see the importance of this project” said Liberal Democrat Councillor Ian Shires. “It’s well known that health inequalities are such across the borough that people in the west which includes Willenhall have a life expectancy 8 years less than those living in the leafier east of the borough. We have a wealth of green spaces across Willenhall, this project was designed to encourage people to enjoy what we’ve got right on our doorsteps whilst at the same time having a healthier lifestyle.”