The Cycling for Leisure project has been jointly developed by Nottingham City Council and Nottingham City Primary Care Trust. The purpose of the project is to encourage more people to walk and cycle to their local park or leisure centre and to enhance these places as a base for walking and cycling as part of an informal exercise programme.

Funding from the PCT's Choosing Health budget and the Greater Nottingham  Local Transport Plan (Smarter Choices) has been used to improve cycle parking at three City leisure locations, chosen in consultation with the City Council's Community and Culture department. The new facilities were installed at the end of June:

• The Tennis Centre on University Boulevard now has 3 individual lockers in addition to the existing cycle stands;
• Southglade Leisure Centre in Bestwood now has 5 individual lockers in addition to the existing cycle stands;
• The Forest Recreation Ground has 4 cycle stands adjacent to the all-weather pitch.

Key management systems are planned for the new lockers but are not yet in operation so at the moment you have to bring your own lock. Please ask at reception at the Tennis Centre and Southglade for more information.

Pocket maps are in preparation for each area to show walking and cycling routes around each site along with a calorie converter so you can calculate the health benefits of doing more walking and cycling. The maps should be available by the end of October.