Public health team advice ‘essentially ignored’ over takeaway applications in Doncaster

Carrie Wardle, public health specialist at Doncaster Council, was addressing councillors over a report into childhood obesity across the borough.

A new report has shown data around 25 per cent of Reception year children in Doncaster are either overweight or obese which is increasing to 33 per cent by the time of leaving primary school.

In relation to obesity, including severe obesity, around 10 per cent children are obese at the start of primary school and this doubles to 20 per cent by the time of leaving.

The data also revealed the problem was exacerbated by areas with higher deprivation.

The report said low-income communities ‘disproportionately face the greatest risk of obesity and associated health conditions’.

It went on to say children in families from more deprived areas are ‘less likely to have the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables per day and more likely to have low physical activity levels’.

The public health children and young people’s team are said to be working to tackle some of the factors that can contribute to childhood obesity through a combination of ‘commissioned services; provision of training and resources for people who work with children and young people; and the promotion of environments that support healthy behaviours’.

Conisbrough and Denaby councillor Lani-Mae Ball brought up the prevalence of takeaways was an issue across Doncaster.

“To make the borough more healthy, we’ve said this many times before, we need to really drill down and really have a proper criteria on how we give licences to takeaways,” Coun Ball said.

Ms Wardle said: “It wouldn’t be out of line saying it’s quite frustrating for colleagues in public health and there’s been examples of where the (health) implications have been essentially ignored and perhaps other priorities of the council have overridden health concerns we’ve pointed out.

“It’s a difficult balance because we want the business revenue coming into the borough and we want to support small businesses but what cost is that going to have on our citizens and is it worth it?

“It’s a difficult question the council has to ask itself and people in positions of leadership have to ask themselves.”