British Military Fitness already pays to use the parks in which it operates, and believes in contributing to their upkeep
david albutt cloa • policy officer
“C
ouncils have a duty to promote wellbeing, so there’s an argument
that PTs should be allowed to use parks for free. But I’d bet most PT clients are not on low incomes or from the councils’ target groups in terms of health – they’ll already be active people – which makes this argument harder to support. In any case, football leagues and tennis coaches
using public parks and courts have to pay; if PTs are let off, can councils really charge anyone else? And how is charging PTs to use parks different from charging them to use a council’s fitness suite? Parks cost, and there’s no duty on councils to provide them
so they have to recoup their costs. Auditors expect a reasonable charge to be made for any service; charging less than the going rate or offering free use needs a robust and consistent case. Most use of parks is entirely casual; it would be next to
impossible to levy fees for this, and the costs of doing so would outweigh any income. But where there is an option, then councils can and do charge. Many volunteers organise not-for-profit activity in parks and they’re content to pay. If someone uses the park to make a profit, then it’s hard to see why they shouldn’t pay.
” august 2011 © cybertrek 2011
gill stewart nordic walking • director
operates the park, and to be prepared to pay for the opportunity to promote and host their business there – just as they do with village halls. Despite being designated ‘public’ space, parks need to be managed and made safe – and that costs. However, we do advocate that, if
“W
instructors are prepared to assist the local authority in the provision of affordable fitness, it can be a good way to make things work for all parties. Many of our instructors offer affordable sessions in return for the using parks. The issue of charging should not affect the growth in the
delivery of outdoor fitness: reputable providers will appreciate that any business requires some outlay and will factor it in. Another point to consider is that some form of regulation
of the fitness sessions offered in parks is required in order to protect the public from rogue trainers or ‘turf wars’. Once again, this often falls into the lap of the local authority, and licences will help monitor this. We fully support the drive to develop a code of practice to help to standardise the quality of delivery, including qualifications, health and safety and insurance.
” Read Health Club Management online
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 29
e train our instructors to seek permission from whoever
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