Here it comes. The flood of cars heading to the beach/park.
Discussion
Following on from the ban of cars for social distancing (and hereby stealing the heading format). I'm curious what the PH community thinks our roads will be like this weekend?
Following Bojo's announcement that it is now OK to travel for Exercise do you feel that people will be travelling 1hour/2hours/4hours for their daily exercise in the country?
We've noticed a huge increase in traffic this week with workers returning to work and people travelling to other locations for exercise and extra shopping excursions but can you envision the beaches and national parks being flooded full of tourists?
I personally expect the beaches and peak district/lake district to be somewhat busier with people traveling from more than a hour away.
Now I am tempted to travel about but common sense is telling me to stay local in the areas I know and avoid popular locations where it may be difficult to social distance. I've just cancelled our June holiday (Cornwall; week 26) as it's unlikely that things will be changing by then but have thought about a day excursion somewhere nice in my time off.
One thing that may deter travelers is that public toilets and cafes/takeaways of course are not open.
I guess time will tell and I feel for those that live near any national park or beach.
On a side note my "summer" car is not on the road and probably will stay that way this summer to ensure my temptation to go for a drive doesn't get too great.
Following Bojo's announcement that it is now OK to travel for Exercise do you feel that people will be travelling 1hour/2hours/4hours for their daily exercise in the country?
We've noticed a huge increase in traffic this week with workers returning to work and people travelling to other locations for exercise and extra shopping excursions but can you envision the beaches and national parks being flooded full of tourists?
I personally expect the beaches and peak district/lake district to be somewhat busier with people traveling from more than a hour away.
Now I am tempted to travel about but common sense is telling me to stay local in the areas I know and avoid popular locations where it may be difficult to social distance. I've just cancelled our June holiday (Cornwall; week 26) as it's unlikely that things will be changing by then but have thought about a day excursion somewhere nice in my time off.
One thing that may deter travelers is that public toilets and cafes/takeaways of course are not open.
I guess time will tell and I feel for those that live near any national park or beach.
On a side note my "summer" car is not on the road and probably will stay that way this summer to ensure my temptation to go for a drive doesn't get too great.
ShoooRn said:
Following on from the ban of cars for social distancing (and hereby stealing the heading format). I'm curious what the PH community thinks our roads will be like this weekend?
I'd expect them to be busy yes. As there are now many more journeys that have been made completely legal.ShoooRn said:
Following Bojo's announcement that it is now OK to travel for Exercise do you feel that people will be travelling 1hour/2hours/4hours for their daily exercise in the country?
We've noticed a huge increase in traffic this week with workers returning to work and people travelling to other locations for exercise and extra shopping excursions but can you envision the beaches and national parks being flooded full of tourists?
I personally expect the beaches and peak district/lake district to be somewhat busier with people traveling from more than a hour away.
Now I am tempted to travel about but common sense is telling me to stay local in the areas I know and avoid popular locations where it may be difficult to social distance. I've just cancelled our June holiday (Cornwall; week 26) as it's unlikely that things will be changing by then but have thought about a day excursion somewhere nice in my time off.
One thing that may deter travelers is that public toilets and cafes/takeaways of course are not open.
Note Bojo's announcement made it completely legal to travel for 'open air recreation' not just 'exercise.'We've noticed a huge increase in traffic this week with workers returning to work and people travelling to other locations for exercise and extra shopping excursions but can you envision the beaches and national parks being flooded full of tourists?
I personally expect the beaches and peak district/lake district to be somewhat busier with people traveling from more than a hour away.
Now I am tempted to travel about but common sense is telling me to stay local in the areas I know and avoid popular locations where it may be difficult to social distance. I've just cancelled our June holiday (Cornwall; week 26) as it's unlikely that things will be changing by then but have thought about a day excursion somewhere nice in my time off.
One thing that may deter travelers is that public toilets and cafes/takeaways of course are not open.
The toilets is an interesting one. As far as I'm aware they've always been on the list of things that are allowed to be open. I'm not sure why quite so many appear to be closed....
ShoooRn said:
I guess time will tell and I feel for those that live near any national park or beach.
I don't live in a national park or near a beach, but I do live in an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,' which is very popular with hikers, cyclists, day trippers in general. I fully expect it to be pretty busy this weekend and have zero problem with that. As I've said elsewhere, the fact that I live here doesn't mean I own the place and can decide to 'bar' others from visiting when it's perfectly legal for them to do so.ShoooRn said:
On a side note my "summer" car is not on the road and probably will stay that way this summer to ensure my temptation to go for a drive doesn't get too great.
Your car, your choice. But please remember it's now largely legal to 'go for a drive' and others are completely free to do so.Edited by pip t on Friday 15th May 10:56
The mountain rescue teams in Cumbria have explicitly asked people to stay off the fells and not to travel to Cumbria.
From: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Patterdale-Mountain-Re...
"As a mountain rescue team we're not here to police the fells. However, we as individuals are not going out into the mountains because we know the risks this may place on others should an accident or medical incident occur.
Following the Government's announcement on Sunday it's now down to people’s own good judgement and conscience as to whether they travel here to exercise. All we can do is highlight our concerns and hope that people will support us as we have always supported them.
Please be alert to the fact that:
Very few facilities are open in the Lakes, a lot of the car parks are still closed as are all of the public toilets.
Our rural health care services are already stretched and any influx of visitors will almost certainly add to that burden.
Should you venture into the fells and find yourself requiring our services, any mountain rescue incident will necessitate between 10 and 30 people putting themselves in situations where social distancing is almost impossible.
The PPE you see doctors and nurses wearing in hospitals is far from ideal fell attire so, whilst we’ll do our very best, contact and contamination from team member to team member and to/from casualties is almost inevitable if we become busy.
Should anyone that we rescue latterly test positive for Covid19 all of those personnel involved with their rescue will be forced to self-isolate along with the rest of their household. This will then obviously affect our ability to respond to any other incidents over that two week period. Remember we also have day jobs too…
While Patterdale and (I suspect) the rest of the teams in the Lakes have the ability to do so we will continue to come to the aid of those that require our assistance. However, remember we’re simply volunteers, trying to help out and give something back to an outdoor community that we enjoy being a part of. As soon as that good will goes and people cease to enjoy going out, members leave teams.
While the mountains seem like the ideal place to socially distance what happens when it all goes wrong? Nobody goes out for a day on the fells expecting to have to call on our help but accidents do happen. Please just take a few minutes to think about your actions and the potential consequences before planning your walk in the Lakes. At this time we’d rather you didn’t venture onto the High Fells of Lake District and that's a message that goes for locals as well as those contemplating travelling to the area. We are staying away and, for now, we’d rather you did too."
From: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Patterdale-Mountain-Re...
"As a mountain rescue team we're not here to police the fells. However, we as individuals are not going out into the mountains because we know the risks this may place on others should an accident or medical incident occur.
Following the Government's announcement on Sunday it's now down to people’s own good judgement and conscience as to whether they travel here to exercise. All we can do is highlight our concerns and hope that people will support us as we have always supported them.
Please be alert to the fact that:
Very few facilities are open in the Lakes, a lot of the car parks are still closed as are all of the public toilets.
Our rural health care services are already stretched and any influx of visitors will almost certainly add to that burden.
Should you venture into the fells and find yourself requiring our services, any mountain rescue incident will necessitate between 10 and 30 people putting themselves in situations where social distancing is almost impossible.
The PPE you see doctors and nurses wearing in hospitals is far from ideal fell attire so, whilst we’ll do our very best, contact and contamination from team member to team member and to/from casualties is almost inevitable if we become busy.
Should anyone that we rescue latterly test positive for Covid19 all of those personnel involved with their rescue will be forced to self-isolate along with the rest of their household. This will then obviously affect our ability to respond to any other incidents over that two week period. Remember we also have day jobs too…
While Patterdale and (I suspect) the rest of the teams in the Lakes have the ability to do so we will continue to come to the aid of those that require our assistance. However, remember we’re simply volunteers, trying to help out and give something back to an outdoor community that we enjoy being a part of. As soon as that good will goes and people cease to enjoy going out, members leave teams.
While the mountains seem like the ideal place to socially distance what happens when it all goes wrong? Nobody goes out for a day on the fells expecting to have to call on our help but accidents do happen. Please just take a few minutes to think about your actions and the potential consequences before planning your walk in the Lakes. At this time we’d rather you didn’t venture onto the High Fells of Lake District and that's a message that goes for locals as well as those contemplating travelling to the area. We are staying away and, for now, we’d rather you did too."
They've opened up the local countryside carparks where I am.
Personally I am still wary of travelling long distances due to uncertainty over what will be open. Good that all the local carparks are open now though and I have a week off so will hopefully be able to make use of them.
I always thought it was overkill shutting down all the carparks used mainly by dog walkers and ramblers. I can understand there might be special requirements at places like Snowdonia but the rest should have stayed open.
Personally I am still wary of travelling long distances due to uncertainty over what will be open. Good that all the local carparks are open now though and I have a week off so will hopefully be able to make use of them.
I always thought it was overkill shutting down all the carparks used mainly by dog walkers and ramblers. I can understand there might be special requirements at places like Snowdonia but the rest should have stayed open.
I live within walking distance of a harbour and beach. Yesterday was already far busier than even last week with many people on the beach and wandering around the Harbour despite a chilling wind. Local businesses are gearing up with several cafes and pubs now open for takeaways with social distancing and many more planning to do so at the weekend. The major problem is the complete lack of both open car parks and more importantly no open toilet facilities due to our councils ridiculous idea that if they are closed no one will come. They will come and will just block the back roads with parked cars and use whatever corners they can to go to the loo.
With temperatures forecast to be in the mid 20s by the weekend I fully expect it to be absolute chaos here which will be really nice especially for all those who make a living from the tourists ie. all of us one way or another.
My tip to you all thinking of coming down is to invest in a few of these.
https://www.chemist-4-u.com/traveljohn-disposable-...
With temperatures forecast to be in the mid 20s by the weekend I fully expect it to be absolute chaos here which will be really nice especially for all those who make a living from the tourists ie. all of us one way or another.
My tip to you all thinking of coming down is to invest in a few of these.
https://www.chemist-4-u.com/traveljohn-disposable-...
Stay in Bed Instead said:
That’s a bit rich, they hosted the UK’s super spreader! Perhaps if they had contained him better, we wouldn’t be in this mess!
pip t said:
Note Bojo's announcement made it completely legal to travel for 'open air recreation' not just 'exercise.'
The toilets is an interesting one. As far as I'm aware they've always been on the list of things that are allowed to be open. I'm not sure why quite so many appear to be closed....
Cheers Pip - yeah exactly as it's all perfectly legal those people should be entitled to travel as and where they want to the beach/national park/area of outstanding natural beauty and to be honest the extra fuel consumption and boost in tourism economy will only do the country good financially . (ref the car; it also needs some work and it gives me more time to focus on doing that rather than rushing it onto the road The toilets is an interesting one. As far as I'm aware they've always been on the list of things that are allowed to be open. I'm not sure why quite so many appear to be closed....
ShoooRn said:
I guess time will tell and I feel for those that live near any national park or beach.
As I've said elsewhere, the fact that I live here doesn't mean I own the place and can decide to 'bar' others from visiting when it's perfectly legal for them to do so.ShoooRn said:
On a side note my "summer" car is not on the road and probably will stay that way this summer to ensure my temptation to go for a drive doesn't get too great.
Your car, your choice. But please remember it's now largely legal to 'go for a drive' and others are completely free to do so.
)That said you run the risk of catching/spreading to others that may not have the hospital space of other areas where the travelers have visited from. Although we have seen a drop in A+E attendance like never before seen in April apparently.
Vanden Saab - nice to hear from a coastal dweller; the urinal pack is hilarious but not bad advice for some. Laybys are going to be rammed - families with toddlers/babies may struggle the most.
JagLover said:
I always thought it was overkill shutting down all the carparks used mainly by dog walkers and ramblers. I can understand there might be special requirements at places like Snowdonia but the rest should have stayed open.
I think the toilet and carpark ordeal is mainly due to the staff being made furlough until their workplaces could be "covid19" compliant whatever that may entail... national trust for example is reopening the car parks that use pay and display but not those where you must use a ticket booth/attendant.Camoradi - my mothers partner is in the lakes. Sadly he is in Barrow and was always a decent 20minute drive to a notable fell and the walks on his doorstep within an hour only included some local parks. It was a shame as he went from having the nicest walks on his doorstep to having rather plain excursions each day whilst we had a 5minute jog to our local fields.
As mentioned it's perfectly legal and OK to travel now but would you make a trip?
I think you may find that cafe’s are open. I’ve been to the beach twice in the last week (we live less than 2 miles from them) and was able to get a coffee and cake on both occasions for take out and to consume at distance.
I find the beach easier to social distance on than a lot of places especially if the tide is out!
I find the beach easier to social distance on than a lot of places especially if the tide is out!
I'm up the road from Porthtowan in Cornwall.
The locals were cutting tyres of anyone who wasn't from the village and being general wangers about the whole lockdown thing. "Don't come to our village and surf because of old people".
They've lifted the rules. As much as I detest the hordes, they are allowed to and if they want to do it, that's fine.
Stand by for internet meltdown. St Ives is another one with everyone wanting to burn the emmets.
The major of St Ives has said that St Ives is not open for business.
If they don't get it together in summer (without social distancing) commerce in the town is absolutely toast and the knock on with rents and mortgages will be quite an event.
Having said, the whole place is just filling up with airBnBs anyway.
The locals were cutting tyres of anyone who wasn't from the village and being general wangers about the whole lockdown thing. "Don't come to our village and surf because of old people".
They've lifted the rules. As much as I detest the hordes, they are allowed to and if they want to do it, that's fine.
Stand by for internet meltdown. St Ives is another one with everyone wanting to burn the emmets.
The major of St Ives has said that St Ives is not open for business.
If they don't get it together in summer (without social distancing) commerce in the town is absolutely toast and the knock on with rents and mortgages will be quite an event.
Having said, the whole place is just filling up with airBnBs anyway.
The local TV news (South Today) did a feature on this topic this week. I was staggered at the arrogance of the local authority jobsworths. Their comments ranged from "the public had better not be naughty, or we'll close the car parks again" through to "don't travel here, you're not welcome. Car parks will remain closed. Get off our land you townies!"
I'm paraphrasing of course, but it comes to something when local officials, salary paid by the taxpayer, unilaterally decide that they will ignore legislation. Tells you all you need to know about some (not all, granted) of the town hall Napoleons.
I'm paraphrasing of course, but it comes to something when local officials, salary paid by the taxpayer, unilaterally decide that they will ignore legislation. Tells you all you need to know about some (not all, granted) of the town hall Napoleons.
ShoooRn said:
lots of things...
Apologies, I think in my morning pre-coffee grump I misread your original post as something it wasn't intended to be and bit on it a little!Brave Fart said:
The local TV news (South Today) did a feature on this topic this week. I was staggered at the arrogance of the local authority jobsworths. Their comments ranged from "the public had better not be naughty, or we'll close the car parks again" through to "don't travel here, you're not welcome. Car parks will remain closed. Get off our land you townies!"
I'm paraphrasing of course, but it comes to something when local officials, salary paid by the taxpayer, unilaterally decide that they will ignore legislation. Tells you all you need to know about some (not all, granted) of the town hall Napoleons.
This is what gets me - I don't really have an issue with communities expressing worry about an influx of people - it's when it's put across in this high handed, arrogant way that implies they have the ability to make up their own rules regardless of what has actually been made legal or not.I'm paraphrasing of course, but it comes to something when local officials, salary paid by the taxpayer, unilaterally decide that they will ignore legislation. Tells you all you need to know about some (not all, granted) of the town hall Napoleons.
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