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.

I live on the Kent coast and we have had similar scenes....plus lots of tension and several fights kicking off. There are 22 bays along our coastline, but people flock to the same few main ones.
Parking has been terrible with roads being blocked; and there has been lots of litter left behind.

@Smallsteps88

I think working with local businesses to clear rubbish would certainly allow residents to speak to those business owners and bring home to them just how much their local economy (and hence their personal happiness and wellbeing) depends on visitors. Perhaps some of the staff furloughed from bars and hotels could help out.

@SquirtleSquad

I'm not denying that there has been disruption- the defection and littering are not ideal and any disruption to ferries or public transport is unfortunate. However, in the grand scheme of things, the benefits of tourism far outweigh the very minor issues it causes.

I think working with local businesses to clear rubbish would certainly allow residents to speak to those business owners and bring home to them just how much their local economy (and hence their personal happiness and wellbeing) depends on visitors. Perhaps some of the staff furloughed from bars and hotels could help out.

I think you’ve had too much sun today.

Crews received widespread abuse and intimidation as they attempted to empty overflowing bins on the seafront. In the stretch between just the piers, eight tonnes of waste was collected yesterday on the second collection run of the day. This morning, a further 33 tons of waste was removed along the full stretch of coastline

Absolutely disgusting. I feel for the residents

I'm sorry that you left @Miljea (have you?) Whether you believe it or not I am quite interested in how the media whips us up against each other so my question about where on the beach the photo was taken wasn't intended as goady. It was interested. I attended a march that was minimised by a few news outlets, I know that cameras can lie to suit purposes. I wasn't on the beach - I wondered whether you had been or were local. Fair questions.

We haven't been trapped in our home but we are bored senseless in our home town and would appreciate a change of scene - and the sight of the sea (who isn't made a bit happier by looking at the sea and a bit of a paddle?) I don't blame anyone for wanting a bit of that.

Bournemouth both benefits from and is hindered by it's transport links. It's not a surprise that many wanted a day out and landed there. Maybe if there was greater investment in transport links to a greater range of beach towns it would get shared around better. There are lots of us and we have a great deal of beautiful coastline. .

And maybe the council should have known better - but councils need funding and they are all under pressure at the moment and have had years of cost cutting.

It's not too much ask that people take their rubbish with them or dispose of it further away from the beach. Nor is it too much ask that we plan toilet breaks. Or to make sure that they socially distance.

We should expect better - because if we are ok to piss on each other's house/ garden where does that leave us? (Doesn't want to know the answer to that )

Am going to ignore the suggestion that my in-laws clear up after random dirty pricks.

In terms of crowds it's no worse. People have been cooped up and now on a nice day, they've went to a beach. Are crowds only allowed only for political reasons? What was someone saying about mince?

@BostonCheers

How about "working with" visitors to ensure they take their litter away with them? Or do you think that residents of towns where tourism plays a part in the economy are some sort of underclass?

I don't rile easily but your insistence on our gratitude to people with no respect for local people or property is beginning to grate.

But all these protests have been going on and this is a major incident? Why does it make a different of people get close during a protest or on a beach?

Popped to a local beach this evening for a walk it was still fairly busy but easy to keep social distance if avoiding smaller areas , gradually cleared right down and there was not much evidence of rubbish on the beach
Although few people had left rubbish next to full bins ( despite empty ones 20 yards away )
But in general people were being sensible but still busier at that time in evening than I have seen before , but so many still on furlough and all kids of school and college
I can imagine in the day it wAs prob too packed though
Maybe other places opening might help as it means people can go to more places which might spread them out
How people can sit on a beach that busy even in normal times is beyond me and leaving rubbish there is no excuse

@BostonCheers you really don't seem to grasp the reality of it and the way you're minimising the effects to the local community are really offensive actually. It's the apology equivalent of "I'm sorry you feel that way".
I'm not sure if you're being goady to provoke a response or you're just being ignorant.

Jocasta, yes, my aunt was contemplating a day out in my seaside town but decided against it when I told her how few local toilets there are currently - she has Crohns. Please, everyone, check the local toilet situation before you go anywhere!

People need to understand that the Council declaring a "Major Incident" is to initiate a set of procedures around co-operation. It doesn't mean a disaster has happened but it gives the public services powers to work in a certain way.
It's a bit like things being declared a Federal Emergency in the US in order to release national funding rather than the State having to fund it.

Its legal for people to not wear face coverings on public transport if they are exempt/have a medical condition for not doing so

Hasnt stopped them being filmed harassed and discriminated against....@jasjas1973 And i never said the behaviour exhibited in Bournemouth was okay Its not and shitting everywhere is fucking rank..........................but its obvious to me that poorer/disabled people are paying the price so that ppl could continue to go on those ski trips and cruises. And Cheltenham. And poorer/disabled people AND smaller businesses were/are seen as disposable and sacrificed for the sake of the sporting/betting/holiday industries.

Just because it was legal to go abroad and risk bringing the virus back does not make it okay. Are you saying that if someone has died from this because they caught it from someone who legally went on holiday thats ok. Because its equally selfish legal or not.

@oldqueen1969

As I've said, I don't condone any defecation/urination in gardens, littering or abuse towards council staff. These incidents, while minor, are all regrettable and unfortunate.

What I have argued is that these few isolated minor incidents should not be used to castigate the vast majority of people who visit responsibly and bring billions of pounds with them.

We cannot have a get off my land situation where residents of beauty spots think they have a right to private use of land that is for the public good of the whole nation.

@BostonCheers

To be frank, while littering and people doing the toilet everywhere are clearly unpleasant, I think the locals need to grin and bear it for the good of their economies!

Many of these seaside towns are not well off to begin with so I can only imagine what unemployment would be like if no tourists came, as many locals seem to want!

The rudeness from locals is not acceptable regardless of how a few visitors behave.

@BostonCheers I can't believe this statement!! Do you really think Spain would be happy for all these selfish f***s to do the same to their space??!!

[quote SquirtleSquad]@BostonCheers you really don't seem to grasp the reality of it and the way you're minimising the effects to the local community are really offensive actually. It's the apology equivalent of "I'm sorry you feel that way".
I'm not sure if you're being goady to provoke a response or you're just being ignorant.[/quote]
I absolutely agree with this!

@BostonCheers

Under normal circumstances these issues do not arise in such a concentrated manner. We are talking about one specific day and one specific context.

I have repeated ad nauseam that as a rule visitors are welcome here - there has been madness today but we're not rushing out to buy shotguns and man the barricades. We are lamenting chaos that could have been prevented by some forethought by visitors during the easing of a lockdown in a pandemic.

And we PAY through the nose to keep this area functioning. We have the same rights as visitors, no more, no less, but we don't expect the area to be trashed and our public service providers abused for doing the jobs that benefit the visitors too.

Today was enough "minor incidents" for the area to become high risk. No-one has castigated visitors for the other days of the year when this hasn't occurred.

What I have argued is that these few isolated minor incidents should not be used to castigate the vast majority of people who visit responsibly and bring billions of pounds with them.

What are they spending their billions of pounds on? Most places are still closed.

We cannot have a get off my land situation where residents of beauty spots think they have a right to private use of land that is for the public good of the whole nation.

No-one has said that though. We're saying please don't shit behind your car in the car park before you drive off. Please don't leave still-lit portable barbecues on benches and start fires. Please don't leave all your rubbish behind on the beach to wash into the sea when the tide comes in.

There are less aggressive ways to prove the beaches are not the sole use of private tenants than by literally marking your territory by shitting on the ground.

If that's not you, there's no reason for you to feel personally attacked.

I was one of these ‘idiots’ today who went to a beach. Not Bournemouth but in the same vague area. No traffic jams. Parked in a space. Yes I was busy but didn’t come within 2 meters if anyone. Went to the loo - yes it was open, rather long 2m distancing queue, had an ice cream - not too bad queue again 2m.
Didn’t leave any rubbish and I didn’t poo in the sea! Water was amazing, breeze was fabulous. Not all people who go to the beach on a hot day are idiots. You just have to behave responsibly. Really annoys me that so many leave rubbish. So so disrespectful

1/2 million people don’t agree with you though - they came to Bournemouth today! That’s sort of the point. And that’s why the council, and the police have asked people not to come.

Yes but do you really need to do the ‘Please, please, we can’t cope’ laments on MN? Like I said, you’re preaching to the converted.

It’s a form of NIMBYism and annoying.

@BostonCheers

33 tonnes of rubbish wasn't left by a minority and as most of our towns are still in some sort of shut down, these people (i use the word loosely) are not contributing anything to Bournemouth, other than making sure decent people avoid the place in future.

@HelenaDove I agree the crisis was handled terribly in feb/March and that has continued throughout, so we open beaches shops bars pubs etc but cannot or will not open schools.
Yes it is the poor esp from BAME and the elderly that has taken the hit with CV but by enlarge this section of our country wasn't in Bournemouth.

A Tory govt will always follow the money and a poorly educated population suits them just fine.

We are lamenting chaos that could have been prevented by some forethought by visitors during the easing of a lockdown in a pandemic.

Surely it’s poor planning by the council? Stop letting people in if you’re full.

I'm really surprised to find posters defending their right to behave like filthy fuckwits so long as they flash a bit of cash.
I'm even more surprised to realise that some people have looked at the footage, heard about the dangerous conditions and decided that the only thing stopping them from joining in the chaos is the attitude of the locals.

Gosh. Why didn't we think of that?

Exactly @Time2change2
Glad you had a lovely day!