ACOMB has the highest levels of childhood obesity in the city, and a lack of public open space in the area is only worsening the situation, councillors have been warned.
On Thursday night, a 500-name petition was handed in to the city council, urging it to open up the former Manor School playing fields.
Cllr Stuart Barnes, who represents Acomb, said that land is not part of the British Sugar development and is not included in the draft Local Plan but it is not accessible to people in the area.
A survey in Acomb last year showed residents want to tackle social isolation, improve open spaces and facilities for young people and make the area cleaner and greener.
An imaginative use of the old school fields could help achieve those aims, Cllr Barnes said, and could help reduce the high level of childhood obesity – which currently stands at 17 per cent, two per cent higher than the rest of the city.
“I would urge all members and the executive to work collaboratively with me on this,” he added.
The petition will be considered by a council scrutiny committee.
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