Huddersfield's shops are damaging our health.
That’s the finding of a new survey by health experts, who place the town in the Top 10 of unhealthy towns.
They blame a mixture of fast food shops, betting offices and payday loan companies for creating a damaging effect on a healthy lifestyle.
The survey by the UK’s public health inspectors has been released today and Huddersfield’s main retail area has been identified as one of the “unhealthiest” in the UK
New research finds towns and cities in North and Midlands are more likely to have higher concentrations of businesses which may harm the public’s health
The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) has published a league table ranking 70 of the UK’s major towns and cities based on the proportion of businesses found in their main retail area that either support or harm the public’s health.
It is part of a campaign to make high streets healthier, by encouraging businesses to take steps to promote health while also giving further powers to local authorities in the areas of planning and licensing.
Based on public and expert opinion, the Society has identified bookmakers, payday loan shops, fast food outlets and tanning salons as having the most negative impact on health, and pharmacies, leisure centres, and health services as having the most positive impact. Businesses were scored by over 2,000 members of the public* and experts, on the extent to which they encourage healthy choices; promote social interaction; provide access to health advice; and promote positive mental wellbeing.
Shirley Cramer, chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, said: “While our ranking of towns and cities is by no means a reflection on whether these areas are generally healthy or unhealthy, our research does find higher concentrations of unhealthy businesses exist in places which already experience high levels of deprivation and premature mortality.
“We recognise that businesses investing in High Streets are important for local economies; but this shouldn’t be at any price.
“The Five Year Forward View calls for us to move “further and faster” to improve the public’s health. This could be achieved by granting councils enhanced powers to create a rich mix of health
promoting businesses on our high streets and encouraging businesses to promote healthy choices.”
The Worst
1. Preston
2. Middlesbrough
3. Coventry
4. Blackpool
5. Northampton
6. Wolverhampton
7. Grimsby
8. Huddersfield
9. Stoke on Trent
10. Eastbourne
The Best
1. Shrewsbury
2. Ayr
3. Salisbury
4. Perth
5. Hereford
6. Carlisle
7. Cambridge
8. Cheltenham
9. York
10. Bristol
