Improved GP access and 'climate resilient' homes planned in mayor's ambitious 'South Yorkshire Strategy'
“I'm confident South Yorkshire's best days are still ahead of us"
The region’s mayor has set out ambitious pledges in hopes of improving education, employment opportunities and turning South Yorkshire into “the healthiest region in the country.”
Oliver Coppard has revealed details of the ‘South Yorkshire Strategy’ after a meeting at Barnsley Civic on Friday (September 18) in which more than 100 partners agreed to work together to help improve outcomes across the region.
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) signed with strategy along with the NHS, universities and colleges, emergency services, businesses and trade unions to create a united vision over the following years.
It is hoped the plan will improve opportunities and the standard of living for people across the region, introducing more ‘targeted patrols’ to deal with anti-social behaviour on public transport, attract investors to increase job opportunities and create a health commissioner role to bring in local programmes that can help reduce the harm of smoking, alcohol, obesity and mental health issues.
“South Yorkshire's story has always been written by people coming together to get things done and that same spirit sits at the heart of our strategy,” Mayor Coppard added.
"Over the last year, businesses, public services, community organisations and local people have helped shape a shared vision for South Yorkshire. They've told us what matters most: good jobs and opportunity, healthier lives, strong communities, and places people can be proud to call home.
"It isn't a strategy that belongs to SYMCA or any single organisation. It’s a strategy that belongs to South Yorkshire.
"It's our collective commitment to creating a place where every person can stay near and go far, the healthiest region in the country, where every community is connected and proud to call this place home.”
The plan suggests three ambitions, focused on improving education and work opportunities, making South Yorkshire “the healthiest region in the country,” and improving transport networks.
Documents published by SYMCA - which can be found online here - set out a series of targets for 2027, including:
- Consideration of measures to improve the climate resilience of homes, including reducing flood risk and adopting passive cooling solutions, such as shading and enhanced ventilation, to manage increasing overheating risks projected for the 2030s and beyond
- Better pavements, lighting, kerbs, and cycle parking on the routes to bus and tram stops serving colleges and training places
- E-bike subscription scheme so people on low incomes can access jobs and opportunities
- Improved access to and quality of healthcare, and reduced inequalities in access and quality, including better access to primary care (GPs, community pharmacy, dentistry, and optometry), improved hospital waiting times and more equitable access to high quality care and support for both physical and mental health conditions
- Big Clean project underway to tackle graffiti, littering, and fly-tipping across South Yorkshire, making use of Community Payback and assets recovered from criminals
Further targets for 2030 intent for the creation of up to 2,000 new homes across the region and a reduce in fire and rescue incidents through community awareness.
Mayor Coppard went on to say: “Now the real work begins.
“The success of the strategy won't be measured by the words on the pages, but by the difference it makes in people's lives over the years ahead.
“If we continue to work together with the same ambition, energy and determination that got us here, I'm confident South Yorkshire's best days are still ahead of us."