Author kicked out of park after being told “walking is not exercise”
A town hall leader has apologised after an author was booted out of a park for walking during lockdown – and found several others who had suffered the same fate.
A Lambeth council official insisted Paul Burston leave Kennington Park because “walking isn’t exercise”.
Burston went out for a walk in the park on April 18, wearing a facemask and observing social distancing, when he said he was told to leave as he apparently wasn’t exercising.
He said: “Stopped by an official in Kennington Park and told to go home.
“Apparently ‘walking isn’t exercise – only jogging and cycling’.
“I replied that walking alone with a facemask and observing social distancing, I wasn’t posing a greater threat than someone jogging. She insisted I leave.”
After he left the park he met two other walkers outside who had also been asked to leave.
Official Government guidance, which Lambeth council is also advising, is that people can go outside once a day for a form of exercise, which includes walking.
When outside, people must keep a two metre distance from others, and “be considerate,” but should not have picnics, sunbathe, play sports or gather in groups.
Mr Burston tweeted the council asking it to advise officials patrolling the park that “walking is a legitimate form of exercise, allowed under Government guidelines”.
Lambeth’s leader Councillor Jack Hopkins replied to say that the official was indeed incorrect and would make sure staff were briefed.
He said: “Sorry to hear this, Paul. That is not the right advice and guidance.
“I will make sure that front line staff are briefed on the right messages and guidance, and that management are ensuring it is being delivered correctly.”
Mr Burston received a lot of supportive messages backing him up after posting about the incident online.
Tom Watson, former deputy leader of the Labour Party, said: “I literally kicked Type 2 diabetes in that park, first by walking followed months later by jogging.
“They may have been rationing access by this arbitrary divide, but you were definitely exercising.”
He also heard from Oval ward Councillor Philip Normal “who was very supportive”.
Mr Burston has since returned to the park with no further trouble, but has screenshots of the council’s advice at hand.
Pictured top: Kennington Park
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