Kingston parkrun at risk from Thames Water works

Kingston parkrun is at risk following a warning from Kingston upon Thames Council after Thames Water revealed plans to install 34 inspection hatches across Burnell Avenue, the green space where more than 500 runners gather every Saturday morning. The infrastructure is part of the utility’s Teddington Direct River Abstraction scheme, which aims to pump treated wastewater into the Thames, but the revised designs could scatter so much construction equipment across the parkrun route that the weekly event may not survive.

Thames Water’s revised construction plan for a river abstraction scheme has placed a popular free running event in jeopardy.

What Thames Water is proposing

The Teddington Direct River Abstraction scheme is Thames Water’s plan to discharge treated wastewater directly into the Thames. The revised design scatters 34 inspection hatches across Burnell Avenue, a key stretch of green space in Kingston that currently serves as the starting funnel for the parkrun. Every Saturday, hundreds of runners gather on this grass before spreading along the Thames towpath for the free 5k event. Kingston council has objected to the updated plans, warning that the density of construction infrastructure could end the parkrun for good. The hatches are permanent access points for maintenance, meaning the site would face ongoing vehicle movements and potential cordoning even after construction finishes. A green space that works as an open gathering point becomes far less useful once it is punctuated by dozens of access covers.

Why the parkrun matters locally

Kingston Parkrun draws more than 500 participants each week, making it one of the larger free running events in south west London. The event is volunteer-led, open to all ages and abilities, and costs nothing to join. For many residents it provides a weekly social ritual as much as exercise, particularly for older runners and families who value the riverside route and the community that has grown around it. Losing the event would remove a well-established piece of local infrastructure, one that supports physical and mental health without requiring council funding or membership fees. Kingston council’s objection centres on the loss of usable green space, but the practical concern is whether any alternative site nearby could accommodate the same volume of runners and volunteers. When a free, accessible weekly event serves hundreds of people, replacing it is rarely straightforward.

How we got here

2026

Thames Water reveals revised design for Teddington Direct River Abstraction scheme, including 34 inspection hatches on Burnell Avenue

September 2026

Kingston upon Thames council objects, warning the infrastructure could end Kingston Parkrun

Burnell Avenue is a modest strip of grass that sits between residential streets and the Thames towpath. It is not a formal park, but it functions as one every Saturday morning when parkrun volunteers set up cones and runners arrive from across Kingston and neighbouring boroughs. The space works because it is flat, open, and immediately adjacent to the towpath route.

What happens next

Kingston council has formally objected to the scheme, and the planning process is ongoing. Thames Water will need to respond to the council’s concerns, either by revising the hatch locations or justifying the current design. The outcome will likely hinge on whether the utility can demonstrate that the abstraction scheme delivers sufficient public benefit to outweigh the loss of the parkrun site, and whether any compromise layout is feasible. Parkrun participants and local residents can submit their own representations during the consultation window, which remains open until the planning authority reaches a decision. The council has indicated it will continue to press for changes that preserve the green space’s current use. Planning disputes of this kind often turn on the cumulative weight of community objection, not just the council’s formal stance.

What this means for you

If you run at Kingston Parkrun or value the green space on Burnell Avenue, you can submit a representation to the planning authority while the consultation remains open. | Kingston council’s objection is on record, but individual responses from residents and parkrun participants can strengthen the case for revising the hatch locations or exploring alternative layouts. You can find the planning application details through Kingston council’s planning portal, where you can read the full objection and add your own comments. If you are a regular parkrun volunteer or participant, consider noting how the event serves the local community and why the current site is difficult to replace. The consultation process does not guarantee a particular outcome, but it ensures your voice is part of the decision. | Planning objections carry more weight when they are specific, personal, and clearly tied to how you use the space in question. Kingston Parkrun’s future now rests on whether Thames Water can find a design that accommodates both the abstraction scheme and the weekly gathering of 500 runners. The council’s objection is clear, and the next step is yours if you value what happens on Burnell Avenue every Saturday morning.

The scheme itself is a wastewater management project, but the council’s objection translates to this: 34 permanent access points mean 34 potential obstacles, vehicle movements, and maintenance disruptions on a route that relies on open grass and uninterrupted flow.

Frequently asked questions

Can Kingston Parkrun move to another location?

Relocating a parkrun is possible, but it requires finding another site with sufficient open space for 500 runners to gather, safe access to a 5k route, and availability every Saturday morning. Kingston council has not identified an alternative site, and parkrun organisers would need to establish new volunteer arrangements and secure permissions from landowners. Moving is rarely simple for events of this size.

What is the Teddington Direct River Abstraction scheme?

The scheme is Thames Water’s plan to discharge treated wastewater directly into the Thames near Teddington. The utility argues it is necessary for wastewater management in the area. The revised design includes 34 inspection hatches on Burnell Avenue, which Kingston council says would make the green space unusable for the parkrun.

How do I submit a comment on the planning application?

You can submit a representation through Kingston council’s online planning portal. Search for the Teddington Direct River Abstraction scheme or the relevant planning application reference, then follow the instructions to add your comments. The consultation remains open until the planning authority makes a decision.

Is the parkrun definitely ending?

Not yet. Kingston council has objected to the current design, and Thames Water will need to respond before a final decision is made. The parkrun could continue if the utility revises the hatch locations, reduces the number of access points, or if the planning authority rejects the scheme as proposed.

Who can join Kingston Parkrun?

Anyone can join. The event is free, open to all ages and abilities, and takes place every Saturday morning at 9am. You need to register once on the parkrun website and bring a printed barcode to record your time, but there are no membership fees or entry requirements.

Useful resources

• https://www.kingston.gov.uk/planning
• https://www.thameswater.co.uk/