£90,000 investment in Keeping Hetton Active

The investment is in response to a 'Let's Talk Keeping Hetton Active' consultation last Autumn which asked residents what improvements they would like to see in their area to encourage them to be more active.

Suggestions put forward by Hetton residents which were supported by Hetton ward councillors, included: 

• Investment in Hetton Lyons Country Park
• Opportunities to be active at Elemore Park
• Improvements to cycling facilities
• Installation of outdoor activity / gym equipment
• More equipment for local youth groups to deliver activities
• Encouraging people to swim outdoors
• More activities for residents and families to do in their own time

In response, Sunderland City Council has agreed to spend almost £90,000 creating opportunities for:

•   People with disabilities to access e-bikes at Hetton Country Park  - £15,000 will be invested in two e-bikes for use by Springboard as part of its People's Pedal Power project at Hetton Lyons Country Park. This will allow people with disabilities to enjoy getting out and about on an e-bike in the park with a carer/ family member.

• Access to an outdoor gym at Elemore Country Park - almost £60,000 will be invested in outdoor gym equipment for use by visitors to the new Elemore Country Park which will be taking shape on the site of the former Elemore Golf Course over the next 12 months.

• Young people to be active at the Flatts Youth Centre in Easington Lane - £15,000 will be invested to help Community Opportunities to upgrade the sports hall and buy new sports equipment for young people at the Flatts Youth Centre in Easington Lane.

Councillor Linda Williams, Cabinet Member for Vibrant City, said: "This is very much about the council listening to residents and delivering on the things that they told us would help them to be more active.

"Being active has so many well documented physical and mental health benefits and we're lucky to have some lovely wide open spaces in Hetton, as well as some fantastic community facilities like the Flatts Youth Club. We hope that this investment will help more people in Hetton to get out and about and enjoy all of the benefits that being active brings by taking advantage of what's on their doorstep.

"We're also hoping that some of the brilliant major sporting events we have lined up for our city this summer including the Tour of Britain, Tour Series and British Triathlon Grand Final will inspire more people to take up swimming, cycling and running as part of our exciting programme of swim, bike, run activities over the next few years."

The new equipment will be funded by Section 106 developers' contributions which councils receive towards the cost of improving community facilities, as a condition of planning permission when new developments are built in an area.