Bournemouth beach - “Major incident”

[BebeGlazer]

The local police and council have now declared that Bournemouth beach is scene of “major incident” because people will not stay away. Overcrowding, littering, desperately dangerous parking.

www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/18541911.bournemouth-beach-bcp-council-declares-major-incident/

Please, please, think kindly before travelling to small seaside towns at the moment. We cannot cope.

If local councils don't want visitors it should be made explicit and the government should be lobbied to create a one hour drive rule (or similar) so that people don't leave their own counties.

I think there is a conflict between councils who have limited power to control visitors (and who have limited funding to provide more suitable toilet facilities) , and the government who want to tell everyone that summer has started and the everything is almost back to normal. That is why you are getting mixed messages.

Oblomov nail hit on head. 'The first picture makes it look worse'- because that is the intention of the first picture. The second, the drone shot, does not have the ability to shorten the range of view.

I am not saying Bournemouth wasn't crowded today; but how many people are responding to the manipulation of the first image? Given that the second appears to give a rather more accurate record of how the beach actually was.

Why are kids off school?

@BebeGlazer

No, I can't. As per usual, all being blown out of proportion.

Bournemouth definitely is not small. Bournemouth Christchurch Poole (BCP) Council is the 11th largest Local Authority in Britain, with a population around the same size as Bristol.

There are two Universities and two major hospitals: Poole and Bournemouth, though about to be merged. Yes it is by the sea, but also has a significant financial sector (JP Morgan etc) and quite a lot of manufacturing (Farrow and Ball, Lush to name but two firms based in the area.) And AFC Bournemouth are (for now at least) in the Premiership.

Yes there is a stonking great beach, and inevitably people congregate in the middle near the railways station and pier, or head for Sandbanks. Locals will know the bits that remain relatively empty, even on the hottest of days.

Yes overcrowded, not helped by the fact that the main road in has to pass through the New Forest. But small.....no.

[quote whenitalkaboutsexnobodylistens]@BebeGlazer

No, I can't. As per usual, all being blown out of proportion.[/quote]
The hospital have declared it a major incident.
The police and council have declared it a major incident.

@BebeGlazer

The hospital? why?

I have 2 questions: why Bournemouth? I mean I’m sure we have more than enough coastline to go around! Am I missing out because I’ve not been? (Not that I’m planning to go)

And

Who are these people who turn up, can’t park, see massively crowded beach and think ‘oh that looks nice’? Wouldn’t you turn around and drive back up the coast to see if there’s somewhere else? Can anyone give me an insight into that thought process?!

Was anyone on here actually on the beach?

This was the scene at 6PM this evening. Taken from the local webcam.

[quote wanderings]@SomewhereEast You're so right. Most of us have been incredibly unselfish. We gave up many of our rights, freedoms and the vast majority of pleasures in our lives, with barely a shred of protest, accepted a "TEMPORARY normal" (I will not utter the ubiquitous other phrase) of endless queueing and restrictions, while constantly hearing conflicting "advice" from an overpaid bumbling clown in a suit. Children stopped going to school, stopped seeing their friends and family, teenagers didn't take their exams, students are taking less than proper tuition (while having to pay full tuition fees). Many parents are having to work from home and look after their children. Many people have had hospital treatment delayed. Many of us are constantly worrying about our futures, and the mental health of our families.

To the dementors who are gleefully anticipating the fabled second wave, longing for rain because "it stops people going out", baying for extended lockdown, beaches to be closed etc: while not condoning the behaviour of these beach-goers, it is getting fucking boring constantly being told we're "selfish arseholes" for wanting to enjoy ourselves.

We've earned a fucking break.[/quote]
Go right ahead and take a break, but please don't shit in other people's gardens or swear at local shopkeepers, and kindly take your rubbish home with you.

I can totally understand why people in Dorset along the coast are pissed off. Having spent time there during bank holidays and in the summer when it is heaving, I can only imagine what it is like now with 1/2 a million people descended on the place, not to mention the people who are behaving like wild animals.

Those who are saying grin and bear it needs to get their heads checked. This behaviour is disgusting and should not be tolerated.

@whenitalkaboutsexnobodylistens probably because emergency services can't get through some of the roads

@Jumblebumblemess

Looks fine to me?? What's the issue?

@Hollyhead

I have 2 questions: why Bournemouth? I mean I’m sure we have more than enough coastline to go around! Am I missing out because I’ve not been? (Not that I’m planning to go)

And

Who are these people who turn up, can’t park, see massively crowded beach and think ‘oh that looks nice’? Wouldn’t you turn around and drive back up the coast to see if there’s somewhere else? Can anyone give me an insight into that thought process?!

I wondered this too. A friend tells me the beach at Arne today (near Wareham) was deserted, it's not that far from Bournemouth. Why wouldn't people drive further along the coast and find somewhere less crowded. A packed beach right now is my idea of hell. I'd be turning around and going back, or driving further to find somewhere else.

Quite frankly, I don't understand why anyone would want to spend several hours in a traffic jam to sit shoulder to shoulder on a crowded beach under normal circumstnaces, let alone when there is a high risk of passing on a potentially deadly virus.

Maybe this will spread the virus among the hard of thinking.

[quote whenitalkaboutsexnobodylistens]@Jumblebumblemess

Looks fine to me?? What's the issue?[/quote]
The issue is the shit and rubbish these people are leaving behind. I am so angry about that.

I am sure if thousands of people all came and shit all over your local area and pissed up your wall, you might be a tad angry about it as well. If not let me know and I will come and empty my wheelie bin all over your property.

@Inkpaperstars Thank you, that’s much appreciated. Can you do the same with all the of other things people might die from besides Covid, particularly those exacerbated by lockdown (which will probably claim more victims than the virus itself)?

@BebeGlazer

I think what some people don't realise is that our council avoid actions like these like the plague - not good for the towns image, not good in terms of showing up lack of resources and potential mismanagement, not wanting to incur extra costs if at all possible. Having lived here all my life mostly, and at 51, I know things must have been pretty hairy on the official front for this action to be taken.

The disruption to local non-tourist industry workers and the like has been pretty dire when those who can work are already having to jump through hoops daily - dealing with delays and huge crowds and the heat must have been pretty shit for them, especially given the reported levels of intolerance and in some cases abuse and vandalism.

I think many central residents know this hasn't been done for fun, but maybe to non-residents it seems like an over-reaction.

@Jumblebumblemess

Oh, you can see that in that photo from the webcam? Well done.

I'm so glad I've been staying home. I live in Manchester so no sea, but I hate the heat and being stuck in a car for ages on a boiling hot day is my idea of hell.

@whenitalkaboutsexnobodylistens 40+ tonnes of rubbish collected over Wednesday and Thursday morning according to Sky news.

why Bournemouth?

The beach is quite impressive. Seven miles of sand. Then over the chain ferry and you have several more miles in Studland, which is National Trust so undeveloped. Then Poole and Christchurch harbours for watersports. Plus you have all the amenities of a good sized town, if it is not beach weather.

Part of the problem is that it is fairly accessible from London (normally just over 2 hours down the M3) or the midlands (A34) and is the nearest good beach to places like Southampton and Winchester. It is also served by Cross Country trains as well as frequent trains from London.

We are trying to sell a small flat down there. (We used to use it to visit my mother who passed away last year.) Can you tell?!

Lets hope the crowds don't put people off. It really is nice and surrounded by some very lovely countryside.

@SleepingStandingUp

Pandemic aside, how is this a fun way to spend the day?

This^

It looks like hell on Earth. How could anyone enjoy being there in that huge throng of people? Sitting for hours in traffic to sit for hours packed like a sardine in scorching heat. Yuck.

[quote OldQueen1969]@BebeGlazer

I think what some people don't realise is that our council avoid actions like these like the plague - not good for the towns image, not good in terms of showing up lack of resources and potential mismanagement, not wanting to incur extra costs if at all possible. Having lived here all my life mostly, and at 51, I know things must have been pretty hairy on the official front for this action to be taken.

The disruption to local non-tourist industry workers and the like has been pretty dire when those who can work are already having to jump through hoops daily - dealing with delays and huge crowds and the heat must have been pretty shit for them, especially given the reported levels of intolerance and in some cases abuse and vandalism.

I think many central residents know this hasn't been done for fun, but maybe to non-residents it seems like an over-reaction.[/quote]
Thank you for your calming words, fellow Bournemouthian! I’m too stressed today, but have appreciated your wise contributions! (How’s that for “holier than thou”? )