A BOROUGH’S three-year drive to tackle obesity is failing in six of its target areas.

In April 2017 Blackburn with Darwen Council signed a ‘Declaration on Healthy Weight’.

Now a review of the strategy by the Food Active campaign group has said: “Whilst there has been much progress, there is a great deal of work still to do.”

It identifies key areas in which the council’s targets have failed to be met.

They are protecting residents from the commercial pressures of the industry supplying high fat, salt and sugar products by restricting advertisements for such food and drinks near schools and making healthy foods and drinks more convenient and affordable from vending machines in public buildings and limiting access to high-calorie, low-nutrient equivalents.

Other key areas are increasing public access to fresh drinking water on local authority-controlled sites; ensuring food and drink provided at public events includes healthy options; designation as a ‘Sugar Smart Town’ and achieving ‘Sustainable Food Town’ status.

The review also highlights successes including the designation of Blackburn with Darwen as a Breastfeeding Friendly Borough; the formation of the BwD Food Alliance to deliver the borough’s ‘Good Food Plan’; the introduction of the ‘Daily Mile’ in primary schools; the development of a primary school healthy food policy; and the creation of an early years food and physical activity guide.

Cllr Damian Talbot, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s health and well-being boss, said: “Having agreed targets under the Health Weight Declaration three years ago, we acknowledged significant challenges on obesity and unhealthy lifestyles. These lifestyles have deep seated roots and sadly have been passed on from generation to generation. We must be realistic and recognise changes will take time to achieve.

“We have secured additional funding with the ‘Childhood Obesity Trailblazer’ looking at changing eating habits before unhealthy ones are established. We have a record of successful delivery though, with Refresh a perfect example. When the scheme was instigated the borough had amongst the lowest levels of regular physical activity in the country at 16 per cent. After 10 years we are above the national average at 28 per cent – a great achievement.

“There are targets still to be met, and plans are in place to achieve them.”

His Conservative group shadow Cllr Julie Slater, a qualified nutritionist, said: “This really worries me. The borough has very high rates of obesity and premature death as a result.

“The council needs to do something drastic on this front to improve things, especially in schools.”