When Stoke Gifford parish council decided to start charging people taking part in parkrun, a weekly fun run in Little Stoke park, it received widespread condemnation. Tens of thousands of people have signed a petition calling on the council to revoke the charge, and even Paula Radcliffe waded in to criticise the move. In fact, Stoke Gifford’s decision hasn’t seen much support from any quarters, with Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors united against it.
Leading the attack, Labour councillor Pat Rooney from South Gloucestershire insists it amounts to a local “health tax”, and worries it will inspire other Conservative councillors across the country to follow suit.
“It is bitterly disappointing that part of our district is attracting notoriety as the first place in the world to charge for a parkrun,” she said. “I am concerned that other Tory councillors will take a lead from this now that Stoke Gifford has made the move. I urge the Conservative leadership in South Gloucestershire to encourage their Stoke Gifford colleagues to reverse this decision, and to make it clear that they don’t want it replicated anywhere else in our district.”
Although Conservative councillors in South Gloucestershire declined to comment, Jessamy Blanford, a conservative councillor in Ashford, refuted Rooney’s concerns, adding that she hoped she’d “never have to resort to such a solution”.
“I cannot judge the decisions other council’s make, but I know it truly is a hard press for money these days, and in some cases, perhaps it might be necessary to initiate charges,” Blanford said. “We are doing our best to put money into parks so people will be encouraged to use them more, whether they’re walking, running or cycling. Naturally, we want to make our parks to be as accessible as possible.”
To help councils make the most of their reduced park management budgets, which in some areas have been slashed by 60%, Nesta encourages councils to rethink parks and new business models for parks.
But the innovation charity warned that Stoke Gifford councillors had neglected their responsibility to promote health and wellbeing among local people. “The parish council has committed commercial suicide – runners, dog walkers, parents with small children – these are the core users any park manager wants to encourage to come in, not keep out,” a spokesperson said.
Vicki Sellick, director of Nesta’s innovation lab, shared concerns that England’s green spaces could turn into a pay-as-you go chain of parkland.
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat Joyce Duffin, a councillor in Cornwall, said she supported charging park users only when when the organiser is making money.
“Only where a commercial event is held on council land would Cornwall council charge an organiser. If we want to improve the health of the community, we need to provide free events such as parkrun and all other charity or community events including walks and bike rides that locals will want to take part in,” Duffin said.
Barrie Hargove, a Labour councillor in Southwark, London, also said that councils need to charge events that are not free – but he welcomes free community events such as parkrun.
“It really is important to make physical activities available and accessible for people. But cost is one of those barriers, and all councils are in different situations,” he said. “Southwark’s location in central London makes it easier for us to access funds from the government because of the area’s high land value. But we do not solely rely on investment. Our community of volunteers continue to beautify their local parks, which reduces the cost of park maintenance for us, and grows the community spirit amongst the borough.”
He adds that parkrun values parks, and raises funds to help organise activities and avoid eroding the environment.
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