Council becomes first in the UK to charge runners who use public park

[Arthurgray50@blu]

http://www.itv.com/news/west/update/...rk-run-charge/

I saw this, and thought. My god how many people go for runs in there local parks, to keep fit.

It could catch on

[TheDaddy]

I saw this thread, could make no sense of the title, clicked the link and it's dead so thought I could try and decipher it's meaning or walk away, avoiding the park as not to get charged.

What could catch on, runs or being on by the council?

[alanbjames]

The council has the runs? they could try immodium.

[Derek]

I'd assume it's about the local parish council deciding that several hundred people using a park each Saturday for an hour is a bad thing and want to stop it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-36030582

A council has voted to become the first in the world to charge Parkrun a fee for the use of its grounds.
Hundreds take part in two free, timed runs organised by Parkrun UK in Little Stoke Park, near Bristol, on Saturdays.
Stoke Gifford Parish council said it was "unfair" to expect non-running residents to pay for path upkeep. It voted six to four in favour of charges.

Outstandingly poor move by the local council.

As a major fan of parkrun anything that can get 90,000 people running or walking 5k each week should be applauded and helped as much as possible, not seen as a form of cash cow.

[denphone]

And is it the thin edge of the wedge? as yes its a terrible retrograde move in my opinion considering that we are being told to go out and do more exercise.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Derek

I'd assume it's about the local parish council deciding that several hundred people using a park each Saturday for an hour is a bad thing and want to stop it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-36030582



Outstandingly poor move by the local council.

As a major fan of parkrun anything that can get 90,000 people running or walking 5k each week should be applauded and helped as much as possible, not seen as a form of cash cow.

Spot on. Parkruns are massively popular and this would be an fantastic way to put people off from taking up running.

[Stop It]

Originally Posted by Russ

Spot on. Parkruns are massively popular and this would be an fantastic way to put people off from taking up running.

A council being short sighted and not thinking of the people who actually benefit from these sort of events? Nah, that could never happen.

Absolutely stupid move, and typical of local town and parish councils across the land. They have little power so have to compensate for it somehow.

It was on the national news this morning, and it's basically because it's an organised run (by an organisation, not just some friends), it needs to be covered by the council's insurance, as they are using the council facilities with the council's agreement, just like football teams and others who book pitches.

The council is trying to arrange a grant to cover the cost before May 28th, which is the deadline date.

In summary, people can still run round the park individually or in groups, but to cover the cost of insurance, large organised groups (not individuals) have to pay a small fee.

[Derek]

Originally Posted by Hugh

In summary, people can still run round the park individually or in groups, but to cover the cost of insurance, large organised groups (not individuals) have to pay a small fee.

The councils statement about it mentions nothing about insurance and purely comes down to upkeep. If they are now claiming insurance is another issue it seems they are scrambling to find a reason to justify their decision.

http://www.stokegifford.org.uk/attac...rkrun%20UK.pdf

[heero_yuy]

Another story about petty heartless tin pot hitlers trying to kill a butterfly with a sledgehammer. They should be ashamed of themselves.

[Gary L]

It's just about making money. nothing to do with the excuse of insurance.

Council's all over the country are coming up with new ideas to get money out of the oublic. they go to work everyday racking their brains about what they can avoid paying by saying the word cuts. and how much they can charge by saying the same word. cuts.

I'm wondering if there is another venue they can use that isn't council property?

[Stop It]

Originally Posted by Hugh

It was on the national news this morning, and it's basically because it's an organised run (by an organisation, not just some friends), it needs to be covered by the council's insurance, as they are using the council facilities with the council's agreement, just like football teams and others who book pitches.

The council is trying to arrange a grant to cover the cost before May 28th, which is the deadline date.

In summary, people can still run round the park individually or in groups, but to cover the cost of insurance, large organised groups (not individuals) have to pay a small fee.

That's nonsense.

Parkrun have to get Public Liability Insurance for their events otherwise they would be in a lot of bother if things go wrong. What additional insurance does the council need to provide? Clutching at straws methinks.

The summary makes no sense. If a football pitch ran by the council is charged to all who use it, that's fair, but you cannot charge some people for what is a facility provided to all. At the end of the day, this is trying to get money from an organisation because in their eyes "Someone gets paid for this so we should too" and it totally misses the point.

Council minutes from two months ago - apparently, this conversation has been underway since October 2015, which hasn't been mentioned in the news...

http://www.stokegifford.org.uk/attac...ary%202016.pdf

Parkrun – A short statement was read out by a parkrun representative in attendance which included comments on the timescales for a decision by the Parish Council on the future of the parkrun event at Little Stoke Park that takes place on Saturday and Sunday mornings in the park. The statement also emphasised the organisations ethos is that everything is free and their inability to contribute or be responsible for the maintenance of any of the grounds where the run takes place.

The Clerk clarified that the motion had been passed in October 2015 stating that a decision regarding the future of Parkrun would not be made until April 2016, and therefore this matter could not be brought forward unless he was requested to do so as the Proper Officer by six Councillors in writing.

Unfortunately, the Clerk had been absent from the Council meeting in January when this matter had been discussed, and it was indicated that a decision might be made sooner for the benefit of all parties involved.

It was also reiterated by the Clerk that despite recent negative publicity within the local media and press, the Council were only now requesting that a grant application be completed by the parkrun to both South Gloucestershire Council and the local Public Health body in order to obtain grant funding towards future park maintenance in the future. The Clerk also emphasised that Parkrun had declined these potential offers of funding.

The statement was met with a great deal of resentment from a number of local residents who were also in attendance at the meeting, and the general feeling amongst the room was that the organisation should contribute towards the upkeep of sites used. A number of residents commented on the manner in which representatives of the organisation had gone about stating unpleasant and negative comments about the Council within the local press and social media perceiving that runners would be charged and unrelated to matters actually discussed during recent meetings. One resident stated that she could see that the Council were doing everything they could to signpost parkrun to the available community grants for the benefit of the park.

A resident thanked the Council for the way in which the park had been managed over a number of years and emphasised the importance of the park being accessible to everyone and not just runners. The resident added that he respected the park and appreciated the wonderful facility available for general use by all visitors /park users.

Here are the minutes of the October 2015 meeting.

http://www.stokegifford.org.uk/attac...ber%202015.pdf

TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF PARKRUN AT LITTLE STOKE PARK

At a recent meeting of the Finance & General Purposes Committee, the Council unanimously agreed to implement an annual maintenance charge relating to the Adult Saturday Parkrun at Little Stoke Park effective from Saturday 7th November 2015, and it was proposed that a £1 charge per adult per week should be collected by Parkrun.

A meeting between representatives of both the Council and Parkrun took place shortly afterwards to discuss the proposed maintenance charge and the day to day operational issues being experienced on site.

The following points/issues were discussed during the meeting:-
 Parish Council responsible for all paths other than the cycle/pedestrian path at the back of the park.
 Significant parking issues with alternative sites not being used
 Runners have access to toilet provision and storage
 General disruption to other users of the site
 General maintenance of the park
 Background and Ethos of Parkrun
 Benefits of Parkrun to the local community
 Possibility of submitting a grant request to the Area Wide Forum
 Public Liability
 Parish Council to discuss Parkrun at October and November meetings

EB advised that a letter had been received Chrissie Wellington, Head of Participation for Parkrun HQ, which outlined a number of key points about the successes and statistics associated with the Little Stoke Parkrun.

The meeting was attended by the Little Stoke Parkrun core team and Brian Gardner, the Active Lifestyles Team Leader at South Gloucestershire Council, who originally involved in setting up the Little Stoke Parkrun.

At the meeting it was noted that Parkrun is always free to participants, generates no revenue at local level and does not pay for the use of parks and open spaces. However that parkrun’s added value, through the range of positive personal and community impacts, presents a considerable benefit to ocal people, communities and the council, and even provides cost savings across a range of areas.

Parkrun are committed to improving the operational issues on weekends that have been highlighted which include the provision of parking in the locality during runs.

Council agreed to defer this item for 6 months in order to find solutions to moving forward discussions in relation to this matter.

[Kursk]

Originally Posted by Stop It

you cannot charge some people for what is a facility provided to all.

Are we all free to set up private companies and to use publicly funded infrastructure for buckshee?

This is a private enterprise with paid employees benefiting financially from taxpayer funded facilities.