Mid Sussex residents are striding ahead when it comes to taking part in sport. Latest figures released by the sports survey experts at Active People show Mid Sussex has the highest level of sports participation in the whole of Sussex.

Active People is the largest survey of sport and active recreation ever carried out in Europe. Results are tracked continuously online and are formally published twice per year in June and December.

The latest figures released this month show Mid Sussex is leading the way when it comes to sports participation in Sussex, with 41.3% of people taking part in sport at least once per week. This is a 1% increase since last year (40.2%), a 2.5% increase since the survey began in 2005/6 (38.9%) and way above the national average (35.5%). The data was collected from April 2014 to March 2015.

“Exercise can be incredibly powerful, helping you to feel great both physically and mentally, so it’s great that so many of our residents are regularly taking part in sporting activities,” said Councillor Pru Moore, Mid Sussex District Council Cabinet Member for Leisure and Sustainability.

Cllr Norman Webster, Cabinet Member for Health and Community adds: “Our Wellbeing team work with local people to increase sports participation right across Mid Sussex. They run low cost exercise classes to help people take the first steps to a healthier lifestyle, they visit community groups to provide older people with information on how to stay active for longer and they encourage people to try new sports by offering free taster sessions.

Cllr Pru Moore continues: “Providing local residents with opportunities to take part in sports and recreation is really important to us and we have some first-class leisure facilities in Mid Sussex. We have three excellent leisure centres, with one in each of our towns; we maintain local cricket grounds, community tennis courts and look after almost 70 football pitches for players of all ages. We also support local sports clubs through grant funding, allowing them to buy new equipment and improve their facilities.

“It’s obviously important to have accessible sports facilities nearby but it’s the enthusiasm of our residents that really bring them to life. A great deal of credit must go to all the people who are involved with local sports clubs, giving up their time to organise sporting activities for the whole community to enjoy.”

For more information on the Active People survey visit http://www.sportengland.org/research/who-plays-sport/

Active People Survey results 2013-2015

To qualify as participating in sport, survey respondents must exercise, at moderate intensity, for 30 minutes on at least four days out of the last four weeks (equivalent to 30 minutes on one or more day a week). Recreational walking or cycling does not count.

Planning Policy Update

12th June 2015

Pre-Submission District Plan Publication

Mid Sussex District Council is inviting comments on the District Plan prior to its submission to the Government.  The role of the District Plan is to say broadly what, where, when and how development will take place in Mid Sussex up until 2031.

The Plan, plus accompanying Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment has been published today, Friday 12th June 2015 and is available to view at www.midsussex.gov.uk/districtplan.  The consultation period lasts six weeks, the deadline for all responses is midnight on Friday 24th July 2015.

Paper copies of the Plan and response forms are also available at libraries, Help Points, the District Council offices, and Town and Parish Council offices.

Comments can be submitted online at www.midsussex.gov.uk/districtplan or can be sent to Planning Policy and Economic Development, Oaklands, Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1SS or LDFconsultation@midsussex.gov.uk.   All comments will be public information, and considered by an independent planning inspector as part of the public examination of the District Plan.

For further information on the District Plan, please contact the Planning Policy and Economic Development team on planningpolicy@midsussex.gov.uk or 01444 477053.