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Community Exercise Hit by Red Tape
6 Sep
Summary
- Councils charge hundreds for free exercise classes.
- Licensing schemes now affect small community gatherings.
- Fees exceed running costs, hindering local activities.
Councils across England and Wales are requiring substantial fees and complex paperwork for small, donation-based exercise classes held in public spaces like parks and beaches. A report from the Campaign for Freedom in Everyday Life details how licensing schemes, initially targeting commercial fitness providers, have expanded to encompass community gatherings, including yoga, qigong, and mother-and-baby choirs.
Organizers report facing annual licensing fees of up to £1,200, which they argue are disproportionate to the classes' non-commercial nature and often exceed the scheme's administrative costs. For example, one yoga instructor in Westgate-on-Sea stopped her classes due to a £1,200 annual fee, though Thanet council has since reduced its fee to £300 for fitness activities from the 2026 season. Similarly, a mother-and-baby choir in Bristol is resisting a £100 fee.
Local authorities state these schemes are necessary to ensure insurance, responsible operation, and to cover administrative costs, with any surplus reinvested in park maintenance. However, many community organizers feel pushed out, believing these measures stifle the very activities that enhance community engagement and park utilization. Some councils, like the London borough of Richmond, even enforce these regulations through private contractors issuing fines for unlicensed classes.
