Issue - meetings

To gain approval for Parkrun volunteers to establish a new event at Edenbrook Country Park.

RECOMMENDATION

1.  That Hart enter a 12-month agreement with Parkrun UK to enable them to establish a trial Parkrun event at Edenbrook Country Park.

2.  That £1,000 funding be drawn down from the Health Eating and Lifestyles reserve to contribute towards the set up.

Cabinet were asked to approve for Parkrun volunteers to establish a new event at Edenbrook Country Park.

The Countryside Manager answered questions raised:

1.   Access to the park and parking; There are concerns that the Leisure Centre and the carpark (for people visiting the Country Park) is inadequate, particularly when heavily used at the weekends. How will we prevent issues from car parking?

Answer:  The organisers are in talks with both Everyone Active and Calthorpe Park School to agree the use of their car parks for event participants.

2.   Emerald Avenue has been used by parents collecting children from Calthorpe Park School which creates a dangerous situation for other road users on a blind bend. How will we prevent Park Run participants creating highway issues?

Answer:  The organisers are in contact with all the participants and are very clear to runners where they can park and walk to the starting point.  This will also be signposted.

3.   The space outlined for use by Park Run is not just for dog walking but is well used for meeting friends, picnics, for young children to fly kites and play, and for the elderly come to sit on the benches when it is cool in the morning and late afternoon. How is it proposed that non Parkrun users access the field when the run route encircles the field, are they to be effectively banned from using the Park?

Answer:  We agree there are some temporary restrictions to accessing all the park during this period, but we will work with Parkrun to make sure that there is available space away from the event for other users and ask that this is signposted. Marshalls will also be manning points where people will cross to maintain safety.  Routes can be adapted, and more space will become available at the Country Park in time with the construction of the Grove Farm extension and that will lessen the impact and leave most of the park free for other users.

4.   How can we prevent conflict between runners, dogwalkers, cyclists and other people using the park?

Answer:  We encourage good behaviour from all our users but understand that this is not always easy.  Participants are briefed before the run and have a “code of conduct” that encourages mindfulness to other park users.

5.   During heavy rain it is quite common for many of the paths to become flooded. This may encourage runners to run off the paths and onto the grassed areas causing damage to the flood plain. It takes days for the paths to recover from heavy rain and from October to March they barely recover at all. How will we prevent damage in such circumstances?

Answer:  The event will not run during times were high rainfall or flooding is forecast. The route will be inspected, and the event cancelled if not found suitable.

6.   The grassed embankment, which is manmade, and runs from the Country Park car park alongside the residential properties is not owned or  ...  view the full decision text for item 37

Cabinet were asked to approve for Parkrun volunteers to establish a new event at Edenbrook Country Park.

The Countryside Manager answered questions raised:

1.   Access to the park and parking; There are concerns that the Leisure Centre and the carpark (for people visiting the Country Park) is inadequate, particularly when heavily used at the weekends. How will we prevent issues from car parking?

Answer:  The organisers are in talks with both Everyone Active and Calthorpe Park School to agree the use of their car parks for event participants.

2.   Emerald Avenue has been used by parents collecting children from Calthorpe Park School which creates a dangerous situation for other road users on a blind bend. How will we prevent Park Run participants creating highway issues?

Answer:  The organisers are in contact with all the participants and are very clear to runners where they can park and walk to the starting point.  This will also be signposted.

3.   The space outlined for use by Park Run is not just for dog walking but is well used for meeting friends, picnics, for young children to fly kites and play, and for the elderly come to sit on the benches when it is cool in the morning and late afternoon. How is it proposed that non Parkrun users access the field when the run route encircles the field, are they to be effectively banned from using the Park?

Answer:  We agree there are some temporary restrictions to accessing all the park during this period, but we will work with Parkrun to make sure that there is available space away from the event for other users and ask that this is signposted. Marshalls will also be manning points where people will cross to maintain safety.  Routes can be adapted, and more space will become available at the Country Park in time with the construction of the Grove Farm extension and that will lessen the impact and leave most of the park free for other users.

4.   How can we prevent conflict between runners, dogwalkers, cyclists and other people using the park?

Answer:  We encourage good behaviour from all our users but understand that this is not always easy.  Participants are briefed before the run and have a “code of conduct” that encourages mindfulness to other park users.

5.   During heavy rain it is quite common for many of the paths to become flooded. This may encourage runners to run off the paths and onto the grassed areas causing damage to the flood plain. It takes days for the paths to recover from heavy rain and from October to March they barely recover at all. How will we prevent damage in such circumstances?

Answer:  The event will not run during times were high rainfall or flooding is forecast. The route will be inspected, and the event cancelled if not found suitable.

6.   The grassed embankment, which is manmade, and runs from the Country Park car park alongside the residential properties is not owned or  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37