A PARISH council in South Gloucestershire has become the first in the country to charge runners to use their park.

Stoke Gifford Parish Council last night voted 6 to 4 in favour of charging Little Stoke Parkrun to hold a weekly timed run at Little Stoke Park.

Hundreds of people, including members of running clubs from Thornbury, Dursley and Chipping Sodbury, take part in the popular Parkrun, part of a global initiative to get people running.

At the parish council meeting on Tuesday night chairman Cllr Ernie Brown said: "People can come here any time they like.

"Running, exercise - we welcome that. It's a facility that anyone can use. But as an organisation, like any other organisation, they should pay towards the contribution for facilities.”

Parkrun event co-director Becky Bushnell said the decision was ‘incredibly disappointing’.

She said: "We've done everything we can to explain how Parkrun works, run by volunteers and giving to the community. The benefits outweigh any wear and tear.

"I'm incredibly disappointed and sad for what's going to be lost."

Chipping Sodbury Parkrun organisers said they were 'saddened' by the decision.


Marathon runner Paula Radcliffe has added her voice to the campaign against charging groups to run in their local park.


Chief Operating Officer for parkrun Tom Williams said: "We are extremely disappointed that Stoke Gifford Parish Council has voted to impose a charge at Little Stoke Parkrun.

“Parkrun has had unprecedented success in engaging the least active and encouraging them to exercise regularly. Providing free weekly access has been fundamental to this and we are disappointed that this opportunity is to be removed for the residents of Little Stoke.

"Our aim is to break down barriers to participation in, and delivery of, physical activity and this is consistent across 850 parkruns worldwide, which are all delivered by volunteers and are free to take part in. Imposing a charge at one event is something that contradicts our founding principles and would set a precedent that threatens our future.

“As a nation we must make a decision about whether we want to be healthier or not. The costs to all of us of inactivity and poor health are immense. parkrun has had enormous success at bringing communities together and promoting physical activity in safe and welcoming social environments.

"The past six months have been an uncertain and difficult time for everyone involved with Little Stoke parkrun and our entire global community of more than two million parkrunners is behind them as we discuss our next steps.”

In a statement, Stoke Gifford Parish Council said after three years of allowing the Parkrun for free it had requested a contribution to offset the 'increased wear on the park'.

It added: "Parkrun are an organised group and like any other group using the facilities should contribute towards the maintenance.

"The parish council has only recently paid out £55,000 from public funds for resurfacing the car park and with the additional 330+ runners per week, will shortly need to replace or repair the path at an estimated cost of £60,000, so as Parkrun are significant users of the path on a regular basis they should contribute towards the upkeep."