'Please don't pee in public', parkrunners told

6 days ago

Neve Gordon-Farleigh

News image — Parkrun attendees have been warned against urinating in Christchurch Park, Ipswich

PA Media Runners head along a path in a park. Only their lower halves can be seen. They are all wearing shorts and running trainers. — Parkrun attendees have been warned against urinating in Christchurch Park, Ipswich

Organisers of a parkrun have warned participants not to urinate in the park, following complaints.

Directors of the Christchurch Park event in Ipswich said they had received reports from Ipswich Borough Council of attendees regularly relieving themselves in public.

Posting on social media, they said: "Please respect our hosts, fellow parkrunners and other park users and use the facilities provided in the park."

The council has been approached for comment.

Geographer/Geograph A path in Christchurch Park in Ipswich, Suffolk. There is a sign to the right of the picture with a map which says CHRISTCHURCH PARK. — Event directors said a public toilet block was opened at the same time of the park and that other public toilets would be opened earlier in future

In the post, the event directors said the council reported that a member of its parks team had witnessed urination happening next to a public toilet block.

The statement on Facebook said: "The park is a shared public space used by families, dog walkers, and visitors participating in a wide range of activities, and such behaviour has the potential to cause offence and distress to others, as well as placing park staff in difficult and inappropriate situations when required to address it."

It said the public toilet block near the Westerfield Road gate was opened at the same time as the park, and that in future, public toilets at the Reg Driver Centre would be opened from about 08:45, before the weekly event.

"If you have any issues accessing these facilities, please let the RD [run director] on the day know so that the event team can contact council staff," it added.

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