A SURVEY of the district's open spaces will take place to try and get more people to access the outdoors.

A recent study of people in the district found that Bradford has a lower than average proportion of people who use parks and other outdoor areas to exercise - just 12.4 per cent compared to the national average of 17.9 per cent.

Councillors discussing the issue have said many people are unaware of what facilities are on offer in their neighbourhoods, and called for a census of the district's green spaces so people knew where they could go.

The issue was discussed by members of Bradford Council's Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee last week.

Angela Hutton Programme Manager – Health and Wellbeing, described parks and green spaces as the "green lungs of our towns and cities."

She added: "In some of our more densely populated areas, where many houses don't have gardens, access to these places are particularly important for people's wellbeing."

She suggested the Council could better promote some of its poor quality green spaces by holding activities there or better promoting them.

Councillor Ralph Berry (Lab, Wibsey), said: "It is important to look how we engage communities. We need to recover space that is seen as threatening. There is a perception, rightly or wrongly, that parks aren't safe spaces. In Wibsey Park we got a friends of group going, and you got a lot of people involved and helping shape the park.

"People don't feel like they own green spaces - but they are theirs, we need to get people feeling they can get more involved."

"You always drive past these empty patches of land where nothing ever seems to be done. Bradford isn't without green spaces, we're bursting with them, but not a lot is being done with many of them."

Councillor Joanne Dodds (Lab, Great Horton), said: "I always come across parents who say they don't let their children go to their local parks for safety reasons."

Mrs Hutton said there were around 21 "friends of park" groups in the district, and suggested they could help them access funding.

Councillor Brendan Stubbs (Lib Dem, Eccleshill) said: "There are lots of small green spaces, but people aren't sure if they are allowed access to them. I have been asking for a list of sites that are available for community groups to use if they want to, but it still hasn't arrived."

Councillor David Heseltine (Cons, Bingley) said: "A register of land is absolutely essential. We need to work with our partners to try to bring as much of this land into use as possible."

Mrs Hutton agreed to work on a list of public open space that will be passed to councillors.