Warrington’s Walking Day will not be going ahead this year, following last year’s postponement due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The decision was made by the town’s Walking Day church and school leaders, following extensive consultation with participating organisations led by a senior member of the clergy.
Warrington Walking Day is one of the town’s most iconic events in the calendar, but was cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The event has been postponed again this year, but is set to resume in earnest in 2022.
Revd Canon June Steventon, Rector of Warrington and chair of the Walking Day Committee, said: “Cancelling Warrington’s Walking Day this year has been a very disappointing and extremely difficult decision, but after consulting with all of the participating schools and churches, we have decided that we will resume the historic annual event in 2022.
“We are very hopeful that the national roadmap out of lockdown continues to be followed so that further restrictions can be eased next month. However, given that we cannot be certain about what exact restrictions will be lifted in June, we also therefore cannot plan with certainty for Walking Day this year and so the regrettable decision to cancel the event has been agreed between all parties.
“We are committed to ensuring that next year’s event is bigger and better than ever – and we are very enthusiastic for what I’m sure will be a very poignant Walking Day in 2022.”
Mayor of Warrington, Cllr Maureen Creaghan, said: “It is a pity that Walking Day is cancelled again this year, but I understand the huge amounts of time, resource and planning normally necessary to make it a success.
“In these far from normal times, even with the hope of restrictions continuing to ease and the vaccine programme being rolled out successfully, I understand why the decision to postpone this year’s event has been made.
“We support the decision of our church and school colleagues and I look forward to next year’s event, which I am sure will be extra special.”
