To go to Whitby beach tomorrow

[BubblyBarbara]

I’ve gone to Whitby every year for the past decade or so and I’m missing it dearly. I’ve read Boris’s PDF and it says you are allowed to drive any distance to “open space” from tomorrow so my plan is to go to Whitby and spend the day on the beach - social distancing of course.

But I did a search on Facebook about car parks etc (it’s ok the parking inspectors are furloughed so I can park anywhere I like) and found lots of angry posts on local groups about how the people of Whitby don’t want people coming into their town yet

It’s legal for me to go tomorrow but the locals don’t want us to go.. who is BU here? I say the law is more important than what the locals say.

YANBU - that’s what the law says.

But everyone will tell you not to.

I wouldn’t go. I think the opinion of locals is more important on this issue - if lots of people travel to Whitby they make it harder for locals to safely exercise and make essential trips while maintaining social distancing. That’s more important than you missing Whitby - it will still be there for you when this is over!

The law says you can go doesn’t mean you should
And no I wouldn’t expect a warm welcome
Plus everything will be closed won’t it?

Is there a decent beach at Whitby? I’ve been and liked it but I can only recall the town & Abbey etc.

Not sure what you mean by 'more important'. Legally enforceable, yes. Likely to get you in trouble yes. But why go where you aren't wanted. Whitby isn't a great beach. The town itself will be completely different to normal with few food and drink places open. Go somewhere a bit more remote and less touristy, there's plenty along that stretch.

Just leave it for a few more weeks.

What distance are we talking? 10 minute drive or 2 hour drive? I think that can have an impact. If you're not close enough to be considered local I think its wrong.

It’s unfair on local people, why can’t you see that?

Which car park are you going to use that will let you get to the beach without having to squeeze up and down narrow steps with other visitors?

An hour’s drive or maybe less if there’s no traffic due to lockdown

OP, no one will be able to give you a legal reason or a medical reason to not go. The ‘opinion of the locals’ is pretty nebulous, isn’t it?

If you are going to be careful, socially distance and Stay Aware, then ‘local opinion’ isn’t based on anything.

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should in this instance.

As this has been given as a reason for not meeting in gardens, what will you do about a loo?

If it's less than an hour drive I think it would be reasonable. Public toilets will be shut though, they are in my seaside town.

I wouldnt just incase lots of others have the same idea and it's really busy

YANBU. The rules are clear that it's allowed. We're planning to drive to a beach tomorrow too. We're taking a packed lunch.

I think you should go. Places aren't owned by the locals.

Where will you wee? Public toilets are shut surely?

It might not be legally wrong, but if you're not local, it's still a bit of a twatty thing to do.

If everyone heads off to the beaches like normal, there's not a hope in hell of social distancing and will put pressure on resources that the locals are relying on for their everyday needs.

I get that everyone is feeling pissed off, and by all means, take advantage of some of the loosened restrictions if it helps - but at the same time be considerate.

OP is fine if you go but it’s not going to be fine is five thousand others like you who are equally fed up of being stuck in lockdown also go.

The people in Whitby aren’t bothered about 3-4 people rocking up for a walk, they’re terrified that they won’t be able to step out of their front door without bumping into tourists who think it’s their ‘legal right’ to be there.

I think it will be hard to socially distance there. Can you not find a stretch of beach that’s not as popular?

Seems reasonable as you're fairly near, and it's a weekday rather than weekend when everyone might be going. Personally I would still be sticking closer to home initially and avoid anywhere that might be touristy as I might be contributing to a sudden glut of people, but I'm not going to shame people for wanting to go to special places.

Legally of course you can go, but I imagine everyone will have the same idea and all the beauty spots and beaches will be absolutely packed tomorrow!

Don’t imagine you’ll be alone - I expect everywhere like this will be heaving with people given the new guidance. Bear in mind there might potentially be no parking (this is the case at seaside towns in North Somerset, for instance), and all public toilets are closed, as are cafes, etc. So if you’re happy to spend the day constantly fighting through crowds trying (or not trying) to practice social distancing, having nowhere to pee, and carrying everything you’ll want to eat and drink, then go for it. I can think of better ways to spend a day, frankly.

YABU.

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

What will you do if its rammed with people with the same idea, let alone all the people who actually live there who might want to exercise/go about their essential business?

Also, what if you break down on the way there or back - that's another person you're putting at risk.

My ILs live at the coast, we miss them dearly and we would love to go to the beach too but its just not safe and its not fair on the locals.

I think the problem is that people are like bloody sheep and cluster in the same areas. I live at an inland beauty spot where people can go paddling in a river, picnic etc. There’s literally miles of countryside around it with walks, trails and equal beauty but everyone comes to this tiny little bit. The 100m long old bridge across the river is just under 2m wide at its widest point. Locals need to cross it to access amenities and it’s difficult social distancing on a normal day. On Saturday it was rammed with people sitting on the bridge, taking selfies, picnicking, bbqs, no social distancing, cars slung up on pavements against cottage doors. Really fucking infuriating.