Land Trust response to 2018 Budget

Reacting to this week's budget announcement, Chief Executive of the Land Trust, Euan Hall, said: “While I am pleased that funding for the NHS and a new mental health crisis service was announced by the Treasury we would like to see the government looking at ways to tackle the problems that are currently costing the NHS so much money.

“However well-intentioned this investment is it seeks to tackle the symptom and not the underlying issues. We know that health problems such as obesity, diabetes and mental health are already a huge drain on the NHS so would a portion of this funding not have been better directed towards initiatives such as social prescribing, to get people outside and taking responsibility for their own health and wellbeing and consequently reducing the burden on the Health Service.

“Through our own research we know that spending time in well managed green spaces can have a hugely positive impact on people’s physical and mental health and we need the government to start thinking outside the box if we are going to tackle these problems for the long-term.

“We were also disappointed to see the lack of investment in green infrastructure.

“While we welcome the commitment and funding from government to encourage tree planting the investment pales into comparison compared to the amounts committed to building new roads.

“The government has made the right noises about the environment being a high priority but unfortunately, on this occasion, it appears that their words have not been backed up with action. Action that should be linked to the growing push for new homes.”