Edition number 80; dateline 10 March2014
Two pools, fewer seats, competitive prices
Joy unconfined in east London as the London Aquatics Centre opens to the public after lengthy and extensive work to remodel the building from its Olympic layout to planned ‘legacy mode’. The facility comprises two 50m pools in addition to the diving pool and other training facilities but the seating capacity has been reduced to 2,500 from the 17,500 capacity available during London 2012. Extensive media coverage of the official opening weekend included reference to the trust status of GLL, which is managing both the pool and the adjacent Copper Box Arena, and the off-peak entry fee of £3.50.
Heat helps visitor numbers rise
Figures from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions show a significant increase in visitor numbers, a rise that would seem to be a result of the warm summer of 2013. ALVA’s 53 members manage almost 2,000 visitor attractions and together reported a 6% increase in visitors when compared with 2012. Outdoor attractions showed an 8% increase and some of the highest profile sites reported spectacular rises: the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew saw a 29% increase, London zoo 26% and Stonehenge 19%. The ALVA is expecting the anniversaries of 2014, including the outbreak of the first world war and Shakespeare’s 450th birthday, to have a significant impact on numbers this summer.
STA launches next generation of pool management tools
The STA has launched a digital meter that requires no calibration and offers a Bluetooth link to the STA’s pool plant management system to enable real-time analysis, instant email alerts and reporting. STA say that their new Photometer provides “a superior and faster solution for any pool plant operator who is required to control and proactively maintain the correct water chemistry levels in their pool or spa”. Developed in partnership with Pool ID, the digital sensor removes the need for calibration, which “alleviates annual service costs and the pool operator having to have a spare while the other is being calibrated”.
Not too chi-chi: Everyman reopens
The Everyman theatre in Liverpool has reopened following the completion of a £28 million rebuild. Founded in 1964, the theatre has maintained its reputation for innovation and talent development but was keen that its new home would live up to the promise of its name. Steve Tompkins, the architect that lead the design process, explained that his brief was to make sure that the building did not feel exclusive. “We wanted to make sure that the building felt rich and tactile, that it didn’t feel too posh,” he said. “We didn’t want it to feel chi-chi or too cool for school or anything like that.” The hope of design team is that the building will look better in 25 years than it does at its reopening but theatre staff are pleased that their building is now accessible and the roof doesn’t leak.
Obesity figures: ground for hope and frustration
Data from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has shown a decrease in the number of obesity-related hospital admissions in NHS hospitals in England during the period 2012-13. This is the first time this indicator had dropped since the data began to be collected in 2002-03 but still represents nearly 11,000 admissions and an eight-fold growth over the last decade. Dr Aseem Malhotra, a member of the AMRC’s obesity steering group, said, “It is concerning that one year after the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges – which represents almost every doctor in the UK – published a list of 10 recommendations on obesity, not a single one has been adopted. Until this happens this problem is only going to get worse.”
The AMRC report, Measuring Up: the Medical Profession’s Prescription for the Nation’s Obesity Crisis, published in February 2013, can be found via www.aomrc.org.uk [download pdf]
http://www.aomrc.org.uk/publications/statements/doc_view/9673-measuring-up.html
What local government needs to know about public health
The Local Government Association has published a report titled What Local Government Needs to Know about Public Health as part of its Local Government Knowledge Navigator series of evidence review documents. The report notes that the return of public health to local government has been widely welcomed and “affords an opportunity to provide leadership for health that was largely missing from the NHS between 1974 and April 2013”. It also suggests that the new arrangements could enable a more joined-up approach across sectors and greater collaboration with citizens and communities. Knowing which interventions might give the best value requires access to evidence, so the document provides a digest of what social science research is currently available, identifies major themes, and provides a critical commentary on how these can help investment decisions. The LGA hopes that the research reviewed may be used to inform health and wellbeing strategies and action plans to tackle the health gap between social groups, adapting it to local contexts.
What Local Government Needs to Know about Public Health is available via www.local.gov.uk
UK local government crisis draws European attention
With the Treasury and its allies keen to promote indicators that suggest economic recovery in advance of a 2015 general election, central government cuts to local government funding are set to offer an alternative view. Wolverhampton city council is among many local authorities having to face the realities of major budget cuts. Explaining that the council was having to deal with the most challenging financial situation in its history, the council was proposing £67 million of savings, £21 million of which would come in the next financial year. The council expects job losses totalling some 2,000 posts. Meanwhile, the Council of Europe has heard that the UK is not compliant with the European charter of local self-government on the grounds that its local authorities do not have “adequate financial resources”. Council of Europe officials also note that this is likely “to get worse in years to come”.
Italian culture crisis: answers sought
In Italy the culture minister, Dario Franceschini, is looking for the person who can explain to him why bits of Pompeii, one of the world’s most celebrated and treasured archaeological sites, keep collapsing. Most recently a wall of a tomb has fallen, along with an arch in the Temple of Venus. Heavy rainfall has been cited as the cause of these latest problems but it seems that cuts to the management budgets of Italy’s extensive cultural estate are likely to be the underlying causes.
The real cost of cycling, part 1
Research undertaken by Cambridge University on behalf of British Cycling suggests that the NHS would save £250 million a year if 10% of the UK’s journeys were made by bicycle instead of the current rate of 2%. The report, titled Time to Choose Cycling, also found that the UK would gain more than one million days of healthy living over the course of a decade owing to the positive effects of physical activity. Chris Boardman commented: “Britain is now one of the most successful cycling nations in the world. How can we be getting it so right in terms of elite success but still be failing to truly embed cycling as an everyday part of British culture?
The real cost of cycling, part 2
Further bike-related research has been published by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The school’s study of the impact of the Barclays-branded London bike hire scheme has found that the health benefits of the scheme have outweighed the hazards of cycling in London traffic. These positive health effects have been most noticeable among older users.
Government finances: an unpalatable truth
A report by the National Audit Office has found that the government has lost more than £32 billion in revenue since 2008-09 through unpaid taxes, fines and benefits overpayments. Last year the total owed was at least £22 billion, with some £15 billion of this owed to HM Revenues and Customs. Amyas Morse, head of the NAO, said, “Government is owed a large amount of money but has yet to get to grips with how to manage that debt.”
“Impact of loneliness more significant than obesity”
Research from the University of Chicago suggests that loneliness can be have twice the impact on health as obesity. The study, led by Professor John Cacioppo, followed the health and circumstances of 2,000 people aged 50-plus over six years and found a correlation between those who experienced loneliness and longevity. Cacioppo told the American Association for the Advancement of Science that as people age the importance of satisfying relationships with friends and relatives is highly significant. “Retiring to Florida to live in a warmer climate among strangers isn’t necessarily a good idea if it means you are disconnected from the people who mean the most to you,” he said. “We find people who continue to interact with co-workers after retirement and have friends close by are less lonely... it true throughout the world. I’ve done studies in Europe and China and we are not seeing any differences, regardless of where we look. The results were unchanged when you considered their objective social circumstance, for instance whether they were married or lived near family and friends. These didn’t change the association between loneliness and mortality.”
Download a pdf of the report.
To hell with art, via Denmark
The Leisure Review prize for the best exhibition strapline goes to the National Gallery of Denmark’s show dedicated to Asger Jorn, one of the leading figures of the Danish art scene. “Go to hell with your money bastards!”, which sits below the official title of “Asger Jorn. Restless Rebel”, recalls the words that opened Asger Jorn’s telegram to Harry F. Guggenheim in 1964, sent shortly after Jorn received the news that he had won one of the prestigious Guggenheim Awards. The quotation is somewhat ironic today in light of the fact that Jorn is among most eagerly sought-after and highly priced Danish artists on the international art market. However, the statement captures something of radicalism that is inextricably linked to Jorn’s artistic output. You can find the exhibition at the National Gallery of Denmark until 15 June.
New facilities for Holme Pierrepont
The National Water Sports Centre at Nottingham has unveiled a new gym, offering its customers views of the celebrated and picturesque regatta lake while they pursue their own fitness goals. Serco was appointed as managing agent to the newly formed Holme Pierrepont Leisure Trust in April 2013 with a brief that includes operating, managing and developing the water sports centre in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council. Ian Phelps, Serco’s director of leisure, said: “Our capital investment programme is well underway and the gym is one of the first phases to have been completed and reopened to customers. When designing the facility a key requirement was its ability to cater for a wide range of fitness levels, sporting abilities and performance goals and I am pleased to say that with the help of our partner, Life Fitness, we have managed to achieve this”.
