Comment

Representation ID: 22350

Received: 11/10/2021

Respondent: Canal & River Trust

The Trust welcomes the policy aspiration for regeneration of the Black Country to support an environment that protects and improves the physical, social and mental health and wellbeing of its residents, employees and visitors and reduces health inequalities, including by protecting, enhancing and providing new green and blue infrastructure. We believe that the canal network has a significant role to play in this regard, whether it be through offering a place for recreation, a route for sustainable travel or a focal point for community engagement, skills development or volunteering. Research by Simetrica carried out for the Trust has demonstrated the wellbeing benefits of spending time by our waterways. Through protecting and enhancing the quality and accessibility of the canal network, we believe that it can deliver more wellbeing benefits for residents of the Black Country.

We would hope to see green and blue infrastructure properly considered in Health Impact Assessments required under policy HW3.