End of the road for Bedworth park running club after row over insurance

[dutchman]

The council have insisted public liability insurance is needed



The finishing line has been shown to a popular running group because it does not have insurance to pound the paths of a Bedworth park.

Over the past two months, the Bedworth Weekly 5k Independent Park Run has become a popular event among runners of all abilities at the Miners Welfare Park.

But organiser Simon Hill said that he has been forced to ‘pull up’ the group because Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council has insisted that he gets public liabililty insurance to cover the weekly event.

Council bosses say this is not a new request and said that Mr Hill has previously been made aware of the need for insurance to ensure that all of the runners in the council-owned park are safe.

They even said they have been working with Mr Hill and the organisers of Park Runs to get an official event in the park.

Hundreds of runners, of all ages and abilities, have been joining in the weekly runs, which started at the end of August and were the first of their kind in the town.

But in a post on social media Simon Hill said: “Sadly bureaucracy has reared its head again to put a stop to our run.

“The borough council have changed their minds again, requiring us to get public liability insurance. After the last time we went through this, I picked up some quotes, and we’re looking at around £600. So sadly I think it may be curtains at this point."

A spokesperson for the Town Hall said the authority had made attempts to help the organisers.

“It is disappointing that Simon has decided not to continue with the 5km run on a Sunday morning in the Miners’ Welfare Park,” the spokesperson said

“From initially hearing of his event at the end of August, we have encouraged and supported this event, advising that public liability insurance cover would be needed – which all events in our parks need. It covers both the runners and other users of the Miners’ Welfare Park. We have not ‘changed our minds’ as has been stated.

“There has been some initial discussions with Park Run about establishing an event in the borough but it is still in the early stages and Simon is welcome to discuss merging with the Park Run or indeed to continue with his Sunday run so residents have the option of running both days if they wish.

“The council doesn’t want to discourage anyone from participating in activity in the borough’s open spaces but we want them to do it safely. We hope to work with the organisers of both events moving forward.”