Bishop's Castle is latest Shropshire town to get a Parkrun
Shropshire could be getting a fifth Parkrun thanks to a local GP.
Dr Adrian Penney, from Bishop's Castle Medical Practice, said it was time the town got on board with the running craze that has been sweeping the nation.
He hopes it will help more people get active and give them something to get up for on a Saturday morning.
"A lot of Bishop's Castle people go off to Parkruns in Ludlow and Newtown every weekend with their families and I think it's time we had our own," said Dr Penney.
"The SpArC leisure centre is not open on a Saturday at the moment and Bishop's Castle Parkrun will be a brilliant way to get people active and sociable, without travelling far to do it."
Dr Penney said he has already worked out a five kilometre route for the Parkrun and is confident local runners of all ages and abilities will want to take part.
Under his plan, starting at SpArC runners would head through the churchyard and up Field Lane, through Cwm Mawr Dingle and around the hills behind the town before returning to SpArC.
Dr Penney said: "It's quite challenging in parts if you run it, but people who want to walk the route can also take part. It's certainly not a race."
Bishop's Castle Town Council has pledged £1,000 to get the scheme off the ground, with SpArC trustees giving £250 and Bishop's Castle Medical Practice £500.
Town mayor Jane Carroll said: "The Town Council thought it was a good initiative – exercise for local people and bringing others into the town on a Saturday morning. We were happy to allocate £1,000 from our grants budget."
It will become the fifth Parkrun in the county, with events already established in Shrewsbury, Telford and Ludlow, as well as the new Oswestry Parkrun which started on October 20.
To get the Bishop's Castle event off the ground volunteers are being sought to help run the weekly events on a rota basis.
A meeting will be held on November 8 at 7pm at the Three Tuns and anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to go along.
It is hoped the Parkrun will be launched with a practice run during the week of Christmas – possibly in fancy dress.
