A popular Parkrun in a Surrey commuter town loved by ‘Parkrun tourists’ has been cancelled today (Saturday, August 16) due to a ‘large unauthorised encampment’ of travellers. The 5K Guildford parkrun will not go ahead today as organisers have been told the travellers have ‘no indication’ to move on soon from Stoke Park.
Surrey Police were alerted to the encampment of “30 caravans and 28 other vehicles” in the park on Tuesday (August 12). The force said at the time that it had been judged the encampment did not “currently meet the threshold of powers available to police” to manage such encampments, as reported by sister site Surrey Live.
A Parkrun spokesperson said: “Sadly we’ve had to cancel Saturday 16th due to the large unauthorised encampment in Stoke park. Please spread the word!” We’ve had no indication that the travellers will move on soon, so please watch this space for news of next week. We hope you enjoy your tourism/lie-in.”
A “parkrun tourist” is a participant who chooses to run, walk, or volunteer at parkrun events outside of their local, usual parkrun location. They travel to different parkruns, often exploring new areas and courses while still participating in the familiar parkrun format. The map here shows all the London parkruns you can take part in.
The powers available to police to manage such encampments are “reliant on meeting certain criteria with regards to damage, disruption, or distress”, the force said.
On Wednesday (August 13), a spokesperson for Surrey Police told the public that officers had visited Stoke Park the day before, and would “continue to monitor the situation” while working with the owners of the land – Guildford Borough Council.
The spokesperson continued: “The powers available to police to manage unauthorised encampments under Sections 60, 61, and 62 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 are reliant on meeting certain criteria with regards to damage, disruption, or distress.
“It was judged that the encampment does not currently meet this threshold, but the relevant sections of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 will be reviewed on an ongoing basis to judge whether the criteria to direct the site to be vacated has been met.”
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