MADAM,

When is Monmouth going to get with the programme and help make our town a happier and healthier place?

As parkrun takes off all over Britain we still have to travel to the Forest of Dean, Rogiet or Newport to take part in a weekly, free, 5k timed event. With others coming soon to Chepstow and Abergavenny our town is missing out.

All are invited to any parkrun to volunteer, run, jog or walk. Every event has a tail walker to look after the people at the back.

All new parkruns have a defibrillator and all have first aid kits. They are all risk assessed.

At a time when there are few resources available, cash is short at council and NHS level, there’s a free initiative if we can give it a home.

Every Saturday morning at over 500 locations in Britain people have the chance to meet up and socialise. 11 to 80 years plus join in an event that is sociable, friendly and fun. 4 to 14 year olds can go to over 230 places on a Sunday to do the same.

You join for free and have access to over 1300 sites worldwide.

By this time next year there will be over 2000. Monmouth seems to be missing out. Why?

The start-up funds have been raised but we cannot provide a site. Why?

They are springing up from Anglesey to Aberdare and we are missing out.

There’s a whole tourist boom around visitors to parkrun.

Around 20 per cent of participants coming to the Forest of Dean for instance, are there for the weekend.

Come on Monmouth, our town is missing out.

Mark Williamson

(Monmouth)