DEPRIVED Pennington will receive a health boost in the spring. But a member of the village action organisation says it is not enough.

Because of the deprived area status of the village it has received funding for a healthy living officer under the government's Active England programme. He or she will be based at Lymington Health and Leisure Centre in the grounds of Priestlands School, North Street, Pennington.

But Dot Street, a member of Pennington Action Group, wants more for residents.

A community centre and a place for teenagers to hang out are her priorities.

While agreeing the three-year post of healthy living project officer will be beneficial, she says that many young people will not want to go back to the school campus in the evenings.

"There's quite a few elderly people who have to use the buses to go all the way into Lymington to go to the doctor's. We could do with a surgery in the village," she added.

"A community centre that could house everything would solve all the problems. We could have a fitness class there and there would be everything under one roof."

New Forest District Council assistant director of leisure services, Bob Millard, is convinced of the benefits of a healthy living coach.

He said a Participatory Needs Assessment (PNA) provided statistics used for the funding bid to Active England. The assessment identified Pennington as a priority area under health and deprivation indices.

The healthy living officer will try to improve the quality of life by encouraging people to become more active and improve their diets.

The person appointed in April will work closely with the town and district council, schools, health organisations and Pennington Action Group.

Cllr Barry Rickman, who holds the district council leisure portfolio, said: "This is one of the most exciting projects we have undertaken. We hope a lot of residents will want to become involved.

"The PNA showed that many people in Pennington would like to enjoy healthier lives."

Cllr Maureen Holding, who has the health and social inclusion portfolio, said: "Everyone who takes part will be offered the chance to exercise, learn about good diet and understand the cause and effects of being overweight."

First published: February 2