In March 2006, Scotland introduced a ban on smoking. England and Wales followed a year after.
The following year, heart attack hospital admissions were down by 1,200 cases. Three years later, child asthma admissions were down by 18%. But more importantly, the public supported the principle of big changes that help reduce harm to others, particularly the most vulnerable.
Are air quality, climate change and inactivity the next targets for structural intervention?
That's what healthcare professionals in Tayside, Angus, Perth and Fife think. They suggest improvements to make neighbourhoods more walkable, with residents having healthier places to live and access to green and blue spaces. They link the issue to keeping, improving and extending the recent temporary walking and cycling improvements delivered by the Spaces for People programme.
Perhaps City of Edinburgh Council have missed a trick here. As well as 'Travelling Safely', perhaps we should also be 'Travelling Healthily'?
Have a look at the letter - does SW Edinburgh need similar measures? Should we also #improveNOTremove our local measures?
We won't just make people healthier and make better places to live. There's an argument that it saves us all money too.
Get in touch if with us if you want to help with ideas to improve SW Edinburgh.
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