Cuerden Valley parkrun is being scrapped as a result of costs to the park.

Many are disappointed that the run, which has been going since 2013, is coming to an end.

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Park general manager Simon Thorpe explained the decision, saying: “Parkrun’s recent fundraising campaign parkrun Forever, to protect parkrun for future generations, is evidence of these mounting costs.

“Unfortunately none of this income will be used to protect the venues including Cuerden Valley Park and will be going to cover growing head office costs as the global parkrun movement expands.

“It seems illogical and unsustainable for parkrun not to invest in the places where parkrun happens.”

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In a statement, Cuerden Valley Park thanked those who had taken part in what amounts to almost 50,000 individual runs over the years.

A spokesperson for parkrun said: “We’re disappointed that the local community will no longer have access to free, weekly physical activity.

“However, a landowner has the right to determine what takes place on their land and whilst we don’t agree with their decision to remove permission for parkrun, we have no choice but to respect it and to try and find an alternative location.”

Ramona Mulligan from Clayton-le-Woods has been running since she was inspired to start when she volunteered at the 2012 London Olympics. She has since completed 214 parkruns, 185 of which were at Cuerden Valley Park.

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Ramona said she is ‘deeply saddened’ that the parkrun is ending.

She said: “Lots of people who take part in parkrun are managing long term health conditions, and getting regular exercise helps manage their conditions.

“We support each other, whether we are fast or slow, young or old, small or large. It’s all about taking part, whether we walk, jog run or volunteer.

“We all love the park and would have done anything to support the Trust if they just would have asked. We have already happily contributed so much to the park -by paying for parking, teas and coffees at the Barn before the café opened, and so many of us enjoyed a chat and a brew at the café, and breakfast or lunch.

“I would gladly run every day for another year and fundraise for Cuerden Valley parkrun and I’m sure that many other parkrunners would join me, because this is what we do. We have community spirit!

“But my understanding is that Cuerden Valley Trust didn’t call for a meeting or even pick up the phone to call our parkrun events team to ask for support.

“So we are deeply saddened by this, especially as we have been so cooperative with any changes they wanted to make with change of route, parking etc to ensure that we could continue running together as a community.

“We will keep moving forward, and we will keep moving communities, because parkrun isn’t a place. It’s a movement.”

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