to Diane, CEO, Dudley Gp NHS Trust

Dear Diane

Thank you for your prompt reply.  Much appreciated.

You wrote,

"It would be helpful if you could provide any further details of any data and evidence you have gathered about the use of the walkway and the impact and benefit that would be most helpful."

I have no data and only visual evidence myself on the use of the 22 Kms cycle-walkway between Brierley Hill and NW Wolverhampton. Please ask the authorities for "any data and evidence" that they might well have.  I can assure you it is well used by dog walkers, walkers, cyclists and horse riders on the section outside of Dudley, in South Staffordshire and Wolverhampton.  In this section there is one Woodland Trust property, with car park, and one nature reserve that is popular in Wolverhampton, called Valley Parkway.  In our downgraded, muddy, rough section it runs through two nature reserves, including an SSSI at Pensnett Nature Reserve where the route is reasonable.

On the whole section, the Ordnance Survey Explorer map calls it a "traffic-free route", except it is unusable without wellies/boots or mountain bikes in much of the Dudley Council section.  On this section, it is well used on weekends by the happy mudlarks of Stourbridge Cycling Club who oppose any upgrading to make it usable by the rest of us.  On this section it is popular on many days by dirt motorbikes that also drive walkers and cyclists away by the sheer noise and fumes from their activities.

Outside of Dudley borough, part of the Monarch's Way also uses the cycle-walkway that is used as a circular route with walkers and cyclists using the parallel canal towpath.

I would urge you, Diane and all your Trust members to get fully behind in agreeing with and supporting the fine work done by Henry Dimbleby on fighting obesity and the ill health it brings.  Do you all do so already and how?  What do you, yourself, think Diane of Dimbleby's recommendations?  Can you lobby local MPs and national government to help Henry?  Do you think that in light of the importance of personal good health, if only to take the pressure of the NHS that is under great strain, we all need to be much more active?  Could your nearby, downgraded and much neglected but major urban-rural-urban 22 Kms cycle-walkway be important in playing a part in reducing obesity, ill health and the demands on your hospital?

The fact that we are rapidly exhausting our world oil and gas reserves while also hastening climate ecocide also points to transitioning away from our total dependency on finite fossil fuels that play such a major part in enhancing the natural greenhouse effect so dangerously.  Walking, cycling and horse riding must become more popular, together with public transport, to improve our prospects in getting a more comfortable future.  Do you also think so, Diane?

Have you now put one or two Sheffield cycle stands where I have suggested?  By the main patients' entrance, on the other side of the main entrance from where many more were in use for many years?  Many thanks, if you have.

With best wishes