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POLICY CONTEXT
9. Key developments in the wider policy and legislative context include the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Scottish Executive's agenda for health improvement and increased physical activity. The Land Reform Act introduces a statutory right of responsible access to most land and inland water, and creates a climate for better management of recreation opportunities in the outdoors. This new legislation enables greater access to all land and requires local authorities to prepare core path plans (see paragraphs 57-59).
10. The Scottish Executive's strategy for physical activity 1 aims to significantly increase the amount of physical activity in most people's lives. Sport remains important, but the policy is focused on encouraging all types of physical activity. Towards this aim, planning has a vital role in creating and maintaining long-lasting, high-quality physical environments to encourage people to become more active.
11. Sport 21, 2 published by sportscotland, is a national strategy setting out a vision for the development and delivery of Scottish sport over the coming years and sets various targets for boosting participation. The strategy is currently under review.
12. Providing and protecting open space to meet the needs of communities helps achieve a number of wider Scottish planning policy objectives, including improving design, and wherever possible encouraging modal shifts towards more sustainable forms of transport such as walking and cycling. Public bodies have a duty to further the interests of biodiversity; provision and management of open space can help realise the objectives set out in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy. www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/environment/sbiiyh-00.asp ]
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