Sir Chris Whitty Appointed to Active Travel England Advisory Panel
England’s Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty has joined Active Travel England’s advisory panel. He said:
‘Exercise improves health and Active Travel England’s mission is shared by the health service. We all want to see more people incorporating active travel into their day as a way to keep mentally and physically fit.’
sir chris whitty
Other senior figures appointed to the panel are:
- Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street
- Chair of the Office of Rail and Road Declan Collier
- Global Transport Leader at Arup Isabel Dedring
Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman said:
‘Providing low-cost, healthy travel options to get to schools, shops and workplaces will revitalise high streets across the country and help us decarbonise at the same time. Active Travel England was created to deliver healthy, sustainable transport growth, and I’m delighted we now have such incredible experts to help us get the job done.’
chris boardman
Active Travel Minister Baroness Vere said:
‘Better infrastructure will not only improve connections to employment, education and local services but improve our mental and physical wellbeing and help to level up the country. I look forward to working with Sir Chris, Andy, Declan and Isabel to achieve this.’
baroness vere
The panel will meet four times a year, and its members will contribute on a voluntary basis.
Andy Street said:
‘Increasing walking and cycling uptake is central to our vision to establish a truly integrated transport network here in the West Midlands and can support local economic growth by breathing new life into our high streets.’
andy street
This is good news.
The only slightly jarring note is the way those quoted try to relate everything to economic growth, because that’s what Liz Truss said was the most important thing – replacing levelling-up, which was Mr Johnson’s big idea.
Wouldn’t it be better to ignore Liz Truss’s views, and stick to what you think is important?