Bury Council shares new report about the health of local people

Bury Council’s latest Public Health Annual Report explains how places like shops, fast‑food outlets, pubs, betting shops and vape shops can affect people’s health.

While many businesses contribute positively to the local economy and help our communities, others can make it harder for people to stay healthy, especially in areas where there is more poverty.

What the report found

The report looks at four areas that have a big impact on health:

Alcohol

• More people in Bury die from alcohol‑related illnesses than the England average.
• Some areas, like Radcliffe, have many more hospital admissions linked to alcohol.

Gambling

• Gambling harms affect around 13,000 people in Bury including the families of gamblers and others

Fast food

• Bury has a lot of fast‑food outlets with proportionately higher numbers in more deprived areas
• This is contributing to many children and adults in Bury being overweight or obese.

Smoking and vaping

• Smoking rates are falling, but some groups still smoke much more than others.
• Illegal tobacco and vapes are still being sold in the area.

What the Council is doing

The report shows the work already happening across Bury to protect people’s health.

• Using a new Alcohol Licensing Matrix to reduce harmful alcohol sales helping the council challenge high‑risk alcohol licence applications using local health and crime data.
• Working with Bury Market and Bury Food Partnership to promote healthier food.
• Seizing large amounts of illegal cigarettes and vapes.
• Giving support and training to help people spot gambling harms.
• Working with Bury Football Club to offer healthier choices on match days.

Plans for the future

The report sets out actions to make Bury a healthier place to live:

• Limit fast‑food outlets near schools.
• Reduce harmful advertising, especially in public spaces.
• Support local businesses to offer healthier options.
• Expanding community programmes like Right to Grow and Healthy Markets

• Keep pushing for stronger national rules on alcohol, smoking and vaping.

Cllr Tamoor Tariq, Cabinet member for Health, Care and Public Sector Reform said: “Where we live and shop has a big impact on our health and we want to make it easier for everyone in Bury to live a healthy life.

“By working together, we can build a healthier and fairer borough and the report sets out the evidence for how we can do that.

“Our local businesses are key to a thriving economy but there are consequences for people’s health when we see too many fast food takeaways within an area or when gambling becoming addiction.

“Our report highlights how unhealthy lifestyles are not just a matter of individual choice but shaped by the world around us.”