On 2 May, Greater Manchester will elect a new mayor.
This is your chance to ask the leading mayoral candidates to pledge to do more for leisure walking where you live.
Walking in nature is proven to improve our health and happiness, whether on countryside paths, in parks or down tree-lined city streets. But access to green space is not equal, and for too many, a nature-rich walk is still out of reach.
That's why we've developed a walking manifesto for Greater Manchester. It calls on the mayoral candidates to commit to improving the region's rights of way and wider path network by:
- Developing a strategic plan to improve and expand Greater Manchester's leisure walking routes
- Establishing a Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) fund to support local authorities to repair popular paths, create new routes and remove physical barriers
- Ensuring that green spaces and public rights of way are protected or enhanced in any new development scheme
It’s estimated that the NHS could save £2.1 billion every year in treatment costs if everyone in England had access to good quality green space – but according to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority only 44% of people in Greater Manchester live within a five-minute walk of a park or green space.
Meanwhile, our path network continues to suffer from years of underfunding and neglect, with increasing blockages and obstructions.
Use our template letter to write to the leading mayoral candidates today.
(NB. your post code will be shared with candidates so they can confirm you are a local resident, and so you can receive a response)