In the wake of Lord Darzi’s report on the NHS, the IPPR report on the nation’s health, and the government’s renewed focus on “prevention vs treatment”, I was struck by both the strong consensus around the problems we face and the weak one around solutions. Prevention is multifaceted, costly, and you don’t see results for a long time – no wonder politicians don’t embrace it. There’s no shiny new building or technology to present, and there’s too often complications and division about who benefits. Think smoking bans and sugar taxes.
But two events I attended on Wednesday last week reinforced my view that investment in preventative health needn’t be so complicated, divisive or expensive. It can even be highly visible and deliver widespread benefit on arrival.
Both events were launching newly formed coalitions, and demonstrate that when people coalesce and organise around something that promotes health and wellbeing in local communities - and offer practical and inclusive solutions - government should listen.
In the morning I took part in a kickoff meeting of an emerging coalition of organisations aimed at increasing the quantity and quality of public toilets in London. I, along with others in the room, have been concerned about the impact of poor public toilet provision on local communities for some time (you can read all about it here, here and here) and we assembled last week to begin the process of doing something about it. What was striking was the blend of people and organisations representing a diverse range of interests - health, the built environment, commercial and local government amongst others.
The energy and commitment of this group to something most people find embarrassing and even offensive was palpable, and consensus on the value of public toilets to preventative health, health equity, social inclusion, community-led placemaking – all things which our new government says it’s committed to delivering - was overwhelming. There were many proposed solutions, all to be presented and considered as the coalition progresses. Government should listen – this is an easy win.
In the afternoon I met with the second cohort of signatories to the Swimmable Cities Charter, a new international movement to make cities swimmable. Two of its foundational values are ensuring the right to swim to all residents and visitors, and supporting the health and livability of communities through access to safe, healthy and swimmable urban waterways.
As with toilets, I’ve been an advocate for urban swimming for some time, and am delighted to see this movement progressing – spearheaded over the summer with the introduction of the cleaned up river Seine as part of the swimming events at the Paris Olympics.
Like the London public toilet coalition, the Swimmable Cities movement has attracted a multidisciplinary group of organisations bringing together interests and experience in design, sport, environmental action, public health, community and infrastructure development. Both are exemplary in their multidisciplinary approaches to local challenges.
London is gifted with many urban waterways spread across the capital, with the river Thames at the centre. Some of these are already swimmable and others can be, asthe Mayor of London has stated also this week. Like public toilets, they are visible, located across the capital and supported by many local communities. Another easy win.
To my further delight last Wednesday, New London Architecture announced the winner of its Reimagine London competition – and it’s the East London Waterworks Park, a community-led initiative to transform a 14-acre former water depot in Hackney into a “blue zone” where people can immerse themselves - literally – in water and nature. This will be possible if the current owner of the site – the government -- sells the site to this community group. Another easy win for prevention health and healthy placemaking.
And another benefit of easy wins? They give us the courage and confidence to go for the harder ones – and there are plenty of those ahead.
Clare Delmar
Listen to Locals
23 September 2024
