The National Walking Strategy

Craig McLarenDirector, RTPI ScotlandChair, National Walking Strategy Delivery Forum

Physical inactivity costs the NHS. An inactive person spends 37% more days in hospital and visits the doctor 5.5% more often. The cost to the NHS of physical inactivity was estimated in 2007 at between £1billion and £1.8billion.

Physical inactivity costs the wider economy. The costs of physical inactivity were estimated in 2007 at £5.5billion in sickness absence, and £1billion in pre-mature deaths. Including NHS costs, this totals £8.3billion, or £10billion in today’s prices.

7 Scots a day die because of inactivity

= 2,500 a year

• Kills more people than obesity or alcohol excess.• Can help prevent and treat more than 20 chronic

diseases• Getting Scotland fit would increase life expectancy by

more than a year due to our high prevalence of inactivity

FIRST STEPS….

Our Vision A Scotland where everyone benefits from walking as part of their everyday journeys, enjoys walking in the outdoors and where places are well designed to encourage walking. Our 3 Strategic Aims are: ● Create a culture of walking where everyone walks more often as part of their everyday travel and for recreation and well-being ● Better quality walking environments with attractive, well designed and managed built and natural spaces for everyone ● Enable easy, convenient and safe independent mobility for everyone

CURRENT STEPS….

ProcessStakeholder workshop

Draft action plan

Consultation

Assessment

Testing

Final Action Plan

Delivery Forum

Emerging principles

COMMITMENT

Cross party support in Parliament

cross departmental support (national and local level) / agency / NGO

To enable local travel and health behaviour change

Organisations and businesses

INTEGRATION

Development plansCommunity Planning/ SOAs

National, strategic and local transport strategies

National and local economic development

RESOURCES

Nationally

Locally

Creatively

Preventative

A Scotland where…

everyone walks as part of their everyday journeys

places are well designed

for walking

everyone enjoys walking in the outdoors

Value

People

Place

Infrastructure

VALUE

• Value and benefits of walking

• Measure and communicate progress

• Assess resources and future funding

• Assess current legislative frameworks

• Other strategies

PEOPLE

• Resources for walking• Health and Care Service

providers• Shift from driving• Workplace initiatives• Schools• Youth organisations

PLACES

• Walking networks• Environment• Planning and placemaking• Greenspaces, paths and

parks• Public access

INFRASTRUCTURE

• Pedestrian priority• Landscape and public

realm• Pedestrian safety• Footway conditions and

maintenance

NEXT STEPS….

• Continued analysis and testing• Publish Action Plan• Establish Champions/ Delivery Forum• National Strategic Group on Sport and Physical

Activity• Deliver• Promote walking – think walking – think pedestrian• Monitor, report and review