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All aboard Darwen's new route to fitness

1:00pm Thursday 11th March 2010 in


A TRAVELLING bus with a mobile gym and kitchen area will be piloted in Darwen.

The ‘Health Buzz’ is the first of its kind anywhere in the country and is designed to improve the health of the town’s residents.

The innovative service is the brainchild of Blackburn with Darwen Health Living, offering easy access to gym facilities and a health education centre.

Healthy Living manager Abdul Mulla, said: “Thanks to the enthusiasm of the team we’ve been able to get the Health Buzz from the drawing board to the road in just 18 months.

“We’ve been delighted with the support we’ve had from local communities and businesses and are excited by the possibilities.

“We have already started linking in with schools and local employers and are very encouraged by their respon-se so far.

“The service is flexible and our team can tailor sessions to the needs of individual schools, work places and community organisations wishing to commission our service.”

The initiative has been backed to the tune of £15,000 by Twin Valley Homes and received support from the Darwen and Rural Neighb-ourhood Board.

Chairman John Sturgess said: “This is something we believe will make a real difference to people especially those in rural areas who might not have access to public transport because the Health Buzz will travel to them.”

Twin Valley executive director Kevin Ruth said: “We’re delighted to be in a position to support this project, as helping people live healthier and more active lives will contribute to making the borough a better place to live.”

The mobile gym was due to be launched this week with pupils from Darwen’s Holy Trinity Primary School testing the equipment at the Market Hall entrance.

Comments(13)

happycyclist says...
1:07pm Thu 11 Mar 10

WTF?????
We've just been given a £12m brand new leisure centre!!!!!!!

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time.team says...
1:52pm Thu 11 Mar 10

Yes, but the new leisure centre hasn’t got wheels has it!
But you can’t suit all can you? Come on Janet Anderson, please do complain about the windows again!

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happycyclist says...
3:02pm Thu 11 Mar 10

What really bugs me is that Twin Valley Homes have stumped up £15,000 towards this nonsense. That's TVH the not-for-profit housing association formerly known as Blackburn Council, spending their tenant's rent money on lazy gets who can't be bothered going to a gym.

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burner says...
3:05pm Thu 11 Mar 10

WOW !! Will it bring me a pie and let me play 5-a-side soccer after? I will barely need to walk further than across my pavement. What a great idea ! Good job we didn't waste money on anything silly like a leisure centre.

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darwenpassion says...
3:57pm Thu 11 Mar 10

The posts seem very one sided here! I trust that you are all fit, well, have your own transport and don't have to cart children with you wherever you go. If not and you are looking to improve your health then I suggest that you find out when this bus is near you and make use of it. I believe the purpose of this bus is to change people's perceptions and encourage them to lead healthier lives. If it does this then surely it is money well spent. Twin Valley have money that they have to use for improving people's lives and environment, if this bus works then they have achieved their objective.

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happycyclist says...
4:15pm Thu 11 Mar 10

To darwenpassion: Former tenants of Blackburn Council's housing department voted to transfer the housing stock to TVH to let them run it as a housing association. This was basically a change of name and status to wipe away the debt that the housing department had run up and who weren't allowed to borrow money for repairs.
There was no mention then of community projects, giving free televisions away in competitions or any of the other non-housing related projects they get themselves involved in.

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darwenpassion says...
4:23pm Thu 11 Mar 10

Thanks happycyclist, I can't comment on your statement as I have no knowledge but I won't dispute it as I am sure you have no reason to be anything but truthful. Despite what may have been said in the past I do know that there is money that is ringfenced for reinvesting in the community to support events and projects that are seen to be of benefit.

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Heather11 says...
4:36pm Thu 11 Mar 10

i think it's a great idea. I had a look round the bus yesterday when it was in Darwen and the gym gear can be taken out of it and the bus hired for all kinds of other events like helping people to give up smoking etc. It seems like anything anyone does for the health of this borough gets mocked. We should try and be a bit more grateful for the opportunities we are given to help us look after ourselves. We shouldn't need this handholding but looking at the size of some people in this town, it's hardly surprising we do.

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midas says...
5:35pm Thu 11 Mar 10

Why don't you check where the money has actually come from before spouting off your ill-informed nonsense. The money has nothing to do with rental revenue and everything to do with government grants to benefit tenants of social landlords!

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enoch-powell says...
5:36pm Thu 11 Mar 10

What a load of **** !

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happycyclist says...
9:06pm Thu 11 Mar 10

midas wrote:
Why don't you check where the money has actually come from before spouting off your ill-informed nonsense. The money has nothing to do with rental revenue and everything to do with government grants to benefit tenants of social landlords!
The nonsensnse is that people have been sucked into thinking this is a great idea. It isn't. It represents a breakdown of society, of personal responsibility and a failure of government when the authorities have to go spoon-feeding a bit of exercise.

I don't care where the funding has come from; it represents failure at all levels and what we have here is a bunch of backslappers congratulating themselves that they're doing something for the community. It's bllocks!

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darwenpassion says...
12:58pm Fri 12 Mar 10

happycyclist, perhaps you should change your tag to grumpycyclist!

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lwg76 says...
2:27pm Sat 13 Mar 10

Make sure the bus is not parked on Twin Valley Land, There are Clampers about.

Better by far that improved access, ie bus routes and parking, is provided for the White Elephant down the Hill from the Health Centre or did the council come to the conclusion that the Leisure Centre was innaccessible so a mobile service was required.

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