§ Caroline FlintTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what definition he uses of a reasonable distance when determining access to(a) a leisure centre and (b) a library. [124644]
§ Kate HoeyNo specific definition of distance is used to determine access to leisure centres. Sport England have established a Facilities Planning Model to help assess the extent of under provision of different kinds of sports facility. That model currently uses driving time rather than distance. It is currently being updated to take greater account of other modes of transport.
In respect of libraries, there is no generally agreed definition of reasonable distance from a library and information about the distance of people from their nearest library is not available. However, we launched a consultation paper, on 15 May, setting out draft standards for public libraries, and proposed there that
all service points (i.e. central, branch and mobile libraries) should be located within reasonable travelling time for the majority of intending users regardless of their method of travel".We further proposed as a draft standard that a reasonable travelling time would be 20 minutes. National measurements to assess performance against this standard are not currently available, but we will, during the coming year and drawing on information from library authorities, work towards clarification of a reasonable travelling time, and its assessment.