There are calls for the public to pay to run in their local park after a society hit out at plans to stop councils charging fees.

The Open Spaces Society (OSS) has condemned government proposals to legislate to prevent local authorities charging for Parkrun’ and Junior Parkrun events, and a local group has backed its view. 

OSS says that a blanket ban on charges may affect the use and management of the parks, and jeopardise relations between councils and park users. The society also says that it should be down to each local authority to decide whether to charge park runners. 

It follows the Running Free consultation held by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), in which it highlights that charges for park runs would be ‘entirely contrary to the objectives of this government both for health and for voluntary community action’.

The free running events were launched in 2004 to encourage the public to get active outdoors. Parkrun takes place every Saturday morning, and Junior Parkrun takes place every Sunday morning at Lodmoor Country Park, Weymouth. 

Dinah Ellis, chairman of Friends of Lodmoor Country Park (FLCP), said: “We are really keen to protect our open space and we do support the council, especially financially, as they don’t have the funds.

“People using the park should contribute something. We are great supporters of the Parkrun because it’s great to see so many people using it. 

“We are working with them to organise volunteering events where people can donate.” 

Dinah said that the decision over whether to charge for park runs should be made by the local authority, not the government, as it is the local people who take part. 

She said: “Each different authority will have different demands or requirements.”

There was controversy in April 2016 after Stoke Gifford Parish Council voted to charge runners a fee to participate in their local Parkrun, to fund maintenance of the park. An online petition was launched but the council would not change their decision. 

Organisers cancelled the event, saying that it would not go ahead if participants were charged to take part. 

A spokesman for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council said: “The borough council does not currently charge for park runs and has no plans to introduce charging at this stage.”