SHOCK figures show life expectancy in Redditch is 12.7 years lower for men and 10.4 years lower for women in the most deprived areas of the town compared to the least deprived areas.
The findings were included in a report on strategies to improve the health and wellbeing of residents through improved access to borough leisure facilities put before Redditch Borough Council’s executive committee on Tuesday night.
Liz Williams, a director of Reach CIC – Redditch East Aspiring Communities Hub – said she wasn’t surprised at the life expectancy figures.
“Redditch has some wonderful parks but being able to get to them can be next to impossible for people living in the poorest areas,” she said.
“Look at the cost of bus fares – people simply cannot afford to go there, while the cost of using some of the leisure facilities is prohibitive. Lots of the free things have stopped because there simply isn’t the funding anymore.
“It’s a national issue, Redditch Borough Council, the county council, they’ve all got no money – look at the economy now. How many more children are going to be living in poverty?”
A spokesperson for the borough council said of the report: “The strategy highlights the health inequalities across the borough and we are alive to these.
Based on this information the strategy sets out how we aim directly and indirectly to make things better.
“The recommendations which are yet to be approved are all designed to get everybody moving and engaging in activities to improve health and well-being.”
The report also revealed that estimated levels of excess weight in adults aged 18 and over are worse than the England average, however the number of Year 6 children considered obese – 17.7 per cent – is lower than the England average.
It also said the most deprived areas in the town are parts of Church Hill, Batchley, Abbeydale and Woodrow which are in the top 10 per cent most deprived nationally.
