Close the school-gates and cure obesity!
An article by 
Posted March 28, 2008
Education authorities and councils are being urged to close school-gates at lunchtimes to prevent pupils from leaving to buy junk-food.
Councils have also been asked to prevent new fast-food outlets from opening close to school premises.
But the Local Government Association said it could not force schools to shut their gates and that food retailers could challenge licence refusals.
A ”league table” of the areas with the most takeaway and sweet shops per secondary school has been released.
Seaside towns with outlets aimed at tourists, and inner city areas, are the worst.
Topping the list is Brighton and Hove, with 46 outlets per school, closely followed by Blackpool and Hull.
10 WORST LEA AREAS
1 Brighton and Hove 46.11 outlets per secondary school
2 Blackpool 40.63
3 Kingston upon Hull 40.00
4 Reading 39.17
5 Middlesbrough 38.33
6 Manchester 36.95
7 City of Bristol 36.94
8 Inner London 36.66
9 Newcastle upon Tyne 36.21
10 Gateshead 35.00
Source: School Food Trust
Some councils and schools are already taking steps to restrict children buying fast food during school hours.
Leicester City Council are planning to ban mobile burger vans from areas around schools, and some schools already stop children from leaving at lunchtime.
General secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders John Dunford has said that many schools could not accomodate the “stay-in” policy. Large schools with multiple exits and schools with small canteens would find keeping children on school premises thoughout lunchtimes very difficult.
Education authorities could encourage schools to adopt “stay in” policies, although they could not be compelled to do so.
