Downturn slows active city efforts

CITY leaders have admitted that the recession has had an impact on Edinburgh's attempts to become Europe's most active city by 2020.

Green councillor Alison Johnstone asked in a council meeting for an update on progress towards achieving the long-standing target.

Culture leader Deidre Brock said: "We have had to face up to the biggest recession since the 1960s. That has inevitably impacted on our plans."

She insisted that the council remained committed to efforts to make people more active, with recent projects including the new Saughton skate park, Royal Commonwealth Pool upgrade, Meadowbank improvements and the revamp of the Glenogle Baths.

Councillor Brock also said it was very difficult to judge how Edinburgh compared with other European cities in terms of how active people were.