Pensioner to run marathon to save village green belt

Seventy-two-year-old Nick Price is not expecting to win his age category during his first ever world championship running race in South Africa on Sunday.

But that has not stopped him making the 8,000-mile solo trip to Cape Town. He is raising cash for an unusual cause - the fight against 800 homes being built in his Shropshire village.

The retired eye surgeon, who worked at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton for 17 years, might not set records, but he has run 10 marathons since retiring in 2018.

His mission is motivated by fellow Albrighton villagers' fight against an appeal by Boningale Homes, after its application for the greenbelt land development was rejected by a local authority last year.

"For previous marathons, I've asked for sponsorship in support of charitable causes and have always been overwhelmed by everyone's generosity," said Price, who spoke to the BBC from his hotel room in Cape Town.

"To avoid completely losing friends and alienating family, I had decided that 2026 would be a fallow year, with no fundraising requests. That was until an issue arose very close to home.

"I'm doing this to raise funds towards fighting off the appeal that Boningale Homes has made against Shropshire Council's decision to refuse its application."

Price said he had lots of concerns regarding the development, including increased traffic, a reduction in arable farmland, flooding and a decline in Albrighton's rural character.

Boningale Homes, which has refused to comment until after the hearing due in the autumn, has always maintained its development would make a "meaningful contribution to addressing an unmet need for new homes in Shropshire".

It has also insisted its proposal would make Albrighton a more vibrant place to live for generations to come, with plans including an 80-unit care home and new secondary school.

Shropshire Council's planning committee unanimously rejected the application in December, claiming it did not comply with its planning policies.

The committee said it would be an inappropriate development in the green belt, which has tougher planning restrictions to protect land around large towns and cities.

More than 1,150 public representations were submitted, with only 28 in support of the development.

The Albrighton Development Action Group is fundraising ahead of the hearing, which it is hoping to formally participate in, using the cash to pay for expert legal representation.

Price is attempting to raise about £2,000 for the cause by taking part in Sunday's race - the Abbott World Marathon Majors Age Group World Championships - despite knowing he has little chance of winning it.

"I've looked at the other competitors in my age group (70-75) and the fastest is sub-three hours, which is quite amazing for this age," he said.

He qualified for the event following his impressive London Marathon race time in 2025, completing the 26.2-mile race in three hours and 44 minutes.

"It'll be nice to beat that and get a new personal best, but if I run it in three hours fifty, or something like that, then I'll be very happy," he added

He will line up as one of 1,800 runners from 85 nations taking part in the race, which is part of the Cape Town Marathon.

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