Council and health bosses are bidding for a share of a £30m Government cash pot dedicated to getting people to exercise and eat healthily.

Plans for spending the money include better walking and cycling links, more exercise activities and help getting people into or back to work.

Ian Leedham, health inequalities manager for Calderdale Council, said: "Calderdale's obesity levels are around the same as the national average and better than other areas in the region.

"But we don't want to be complacent, we don't want them to get worse."

He hopes by making Halifax a healthy town, they will be able to help people lose weight and prevent people from becoming obese.

Halifax has already beaten dozens of other areas to make it to the second phase of the selection process, along with 22 other towns and will hear in November if it has been picked.

If successful, it will be one of up to eight places in the country to pilot the idea.

Calderdale Council and Calderdale Primary Care Trust are leading the project.

Their bid is centred on the planned regeneration of Halifax town centre, with ideas to incorporate into planned developments like Broad Street.

"We want to make sure we're involved," said Mr Leedham. "We've got ideas on how to health-proof these plans."

The proposals include developing a "world-class" youth facility, and toilets, showers and changing facilities for people exercising or walking and cycling into the town centre.

Healthy food and drink would be made more widely available, while everyone would have access to activity and health information.

If the project is successful in Halifax, council and health bosses say it could benefit other parts of Calderdale.

They are working with a host of other agencies including Pennine Housing, West Yorkshire Metro, Action Halifax, Eureka, Square Chapel and voluntary and community groups.

Meanwhile grants worth thousands of pounds from the Government to encourage over 60s and under 16s to use swimming pools have been taken up by Calderdale Council.

Members of the council's cabinet heard at a meeting that the project would leave the council with a funding shortfall.

And once the Government's two-year grants runs out, the council will have to start charging people again.

But lead councillor for community services Amanda Byrne said Calderdale people should have access to this offer.

"It seems unfair not to take up this offer and penalise people in Calderdale who could benefit," said Coun Byrne (Con, Sowerby Bridge).

"What we need to be explicit about is we will need to revoke the scheme in 2011 if the Government does not continue the funding at that stage.

"Our hope is we will have built up a base of people over the two years who will want to continue to use the swimming pools at a small charge."

The Government is offering a £57,000 grant to cover the cost of pensioners and £95,000 to pay for younger people using swimming pools.

The cash comes as part of its 2012 Olympic Games programme.

Any organisations interested in getting involved should email:
ian.leedham@calderdale.gov.uk.