COUNCILLORS have given their support to help launch a planned new initiative in Wellington to get young people on the run.

Members of Wellington Town Council’s policy and finance committee agreed on April 20 to award a £4,800 to set up a Junior Park Run in the area.

The weekly 2k run will be open to young people aged from four to 14 and will become the latest in a national scheme which has seen 500 Junior Park Runs set-up across the country.

Organisers of the planned Junior Park Run in Wellington told councillors that it could attract around 80 children who would be joined for the event every Sunday morning by their parents.

“The funding will be for the equipment and the training needed to run the organisation,” councillors were told.

Cllr John Thorne said he was “uncomfortable” about putting council money into the national Park Run UK organisation which had about £1m in its account.

But Cllr Justin Cole said: “I think we should be supporting this and helping to get children active. I accept that £4,800 is more than what we would normally give, but I think we should crack on and support this.”

Councillors were told the funding would be a one-off payment to help get the Wellington event started and described it as a “long-term investment.”

“The visible return on this is pretty enormous,” said Cllr Keith Wheatley. “Nearly £5,000 is a lot of money, but between 50 and 100 children every week is a lot of return for a year.

“This will no doubt thrive and grow – it’s going to get better and better.”

Councillors agreed to support the Junior Park Run initiative, although a final decision on the £4,800 grant application would have to be made by the full council in May.