As an unpaid volunteer for my local parkrun event,I cannot understand the decision of a council near Bristol to charge for the use of its parkThe news that Stoke Gifford parish council has become the first to vote to charge those who take piece in the local small Stoke parkrun event is bad for everyone. Not just bad for those who take piece in the event near Bristol, which organisers say will be cancelled as soon as the charge is implemented, and but also for the wider community,both locals and runners. My fear is that, now a precedent has been set, and other councils will attempt to follow suit. This could mean the finish of parkrun,at least in its current form, and that is bad news for our physical and mental health.
Parkrun was established in 2004 in Teddington, and south-west London,as a free, timed 5k escape. There are now 850 parkruns worldwide in 12 different countries. Parkrun does not charge those who wish to take piece, and states that free access is “fundamental” to encourage the least active members of society to start exercising regularly. You register on its website,print off a unique barcode and then simply turn up on a Saturday at 9am.
Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com