Locals have raised concerns that a Parkrun in Battersea Park every Saturday will cause an obstruction.
SHARE:
Locals say Wandsworth Council’s proposal to hold a Parkrun in Battersea Park will obstruct an already busy area.
After a decade of calls for a Parkrun in Battersea from south-west Londoners, the council will meet to decide on the motion.
Parkrun is a free 5km run every Saturday morning in over 1,200 parks in the UK. Although it is a timed event, it aims to make exercise a part of people’s weekly routines in a communal environment, welcoming all abilities.
But concerns were raised by some locals at a Wandsworth Environment Committee meeting that took place last Thursday about the disruption a Parkrun would cause.
The proposed route cuts off half of the park and would close one of the entrances while the run takes place.
There are currently 62 Parkrun events in Greater London. For residents of central Wandsworth, Clapham Common is the closest place to take part. But Labour Councillor Sara Apps said in the meeting that for Battersea residents, this was a long way to travel for a 5km run.
‘Already hell on weekends’
Caye Guzman, a dogwalker and owner of Walking Dog Co., told City News that a Parkrun in Battersea would create a serious obstacle for him and his employees.
He said they would have to put all dogs on leads and would struggle to get across the path of runners. He described the park as “already hell on weekends.”
The park is already a popular running destination, with its own running festival every October which claims to be the world’s flattest marathon. A variety of races are also held each week by RunThrough, a running event company.
Battersea Park is a popular destination for runners due to its flat surface and wide paths. CREDIT: REBECCA SINCLAIR/CITY NEWS
Rohan Kallicharan, a mental health campaigner and frequent marathon runner worries that a Battersea Parkrun could become popular for the wrong reasons:
“My fear is that it will become the main attraction in the area, building a reputation as a ‘fast PB course’. That’s great for the events that already take place but doesn’t fit with what Parkrun is all about.”
‘We’ll just adapt around it’
Clara Potter, a resident of Prince of Wales Drive which overlooks the park, however, said that a Parkrun would be a better alternative to current running events which can be expensive:
“A normal person cannot afford £25 on a 5km or 10km run, it’s too much money.
“It’s only half the park that they are using so people can just move to the other side of the park if they don’t want to be part of Parkrun. We’ll just adapt around it.”
Parkrun said it is optimistic that the motion will be passed and has already called for volunteers.
Wandsworth Council’s Executive Committee will meet to reach a final decision on the proposal on 4 December.
Submitted Article
Headline
Short Headline
Standfirst
Published Article
HeadlineBattersea Park is not suitable for Parkrun, say locals
Short HeadlineProposed Parkrun in Battersea receives mixed opinions
StandfirstOn 4 December, Wandsworth Council are expected to decide whether Parkrun will be coming to Battersea.
Locals say Wandsworth Council’s proposal to hold a Parkrun in Battersea Park will obstruct an already busy area.
After a decade of calls for a Parkrun in Battersea from south-west Londoners, the council will meet to decide on the motion.
Parkrun is a free 5km run every Saturday morning in over 1,200 parks in the UK. Although it is a timed event, it aims to make exercise a part of people’s weekly routines in a communal environment, welcoming all abilities.
But concerns were raised by some locals at a Wandsworth Environment Committee meeting that took place last Thursday about the disruption a Parkrun would cause.
The proposed route cuts off half of the park and would close one of the entrances while the run takes place.
There are currently 62 Parkrun events in Greater London. For residents of central Wandsworth, Clapham Common is the closest place to take part. But Labour Councillor Sara Apps said in the meeting that for Battersea residents, this was a long way to travel for a 5km run.
‘Already hell on weekends’
Caye Guzman, a dogwalker and owner of Walking Dog Co., told City News that a Parkrun in Battersea would create a serious obstacle for him and his employees.
He said they would have to put all dogs on leads and would struggle to get across the path of runners. He described the park as “already hell on weekends.”
The park is already a popular running destination, with its own running festival every October which claims to be the world’s flattest marathon. A variety of races are also held each week by RunThrough, a running event company.
Battersea Park is a popular destination for runners due to its flat surface and wide paths. CREDIT: REBECCA SINCLAIR/CITY NEWS
Rohan Kallicharan, a mental health campaigner and frequent marathon runner worries that a Battersea Parkrun could become popular for the wrong reasons:
“My fear is that it will become the main attraction in the area, building a reputation as a ‘fast PB course’. That’s great for the events that already take place but doesn’t fit with what Parkrun is all about.”
‘We’ll just adapt around it’
Clara Potter, a resident of Prince of Wales Drive which overlooks the park, however, said that a Parkrun would be a better alternative to current running events which can be expensive:
“A normal person cannot afford £25 on a 5km or 10km run, it’s too much money.
“It’s only half the park that they are using so people can just move to the other side of the park if they don’t want to be part of Parkrun. We’ll just adapt around it.”
Parkrun said it is optimistic that the motion will be passed and has already called for volunteers.
A 2024 Freedom of Information request showed Bromley Council had £4.5 million invested in arms companies that year with £1.5 million reportedly linked to Israel.
Undercover officers raided three linked shops in Barking town centre, revealing how illicit tobacco is being hidden in walls, ceilings and nearby locations to evade detection.
More than 330,000 people across the UK sought support from the Stop It Now helpline in 2025 over concerns about their own or someone else’s online sexual behaviour towards children, according to new charity data. The anonymous service says contacts by phone, email and webchat rose significantly over the year.
