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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go to Whitby beach tomorrow

662 replies

BubblyBarbara · 12/05/2020 18:31

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 Confused

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.

OP posts:
FelicisNox · 13/05/2020 22:31

YABU for several reasons:

  1. the locals opinion DOES count as it's their home not yours so expect filthy looks. You would feel the same if YOUR town was suddenly overrun.

  2. the only reason you say the law is more important is because it leans in your favour, if it didn't you would be saying differently.

  3. sometimes we have to do what needs to be done rather than what we want to do, it's called being a decent human being. We can't all do what we want or we would all be men.

  4. Whitby beach isn't that great and literally everyone will have the same idea as you so SD will be non existent.

  5. why are you going? Literally nothing is open, no shops, no restaurants, no toilets.

Why can't you just stay at home? Yes it's boring right now but we are all in the same boat.

justasking111 · 13/05/2020 22:41

Actually local opinion does not count. I live in a tourist area, overrun in the summer, pretty busy spring and autumn. The locals complain write letters, attend council meetings, what happens, nothing.

Whitby was a tourist area long before covid, people who love it will return again and again. It baffles me when tourists tell me they have been coming here for 40/50/60/70 years, their parents used to bring them when they were children. Privately I think how boring but they love it, the council love the money they bring in. A lot of people live in not great areas of the UK, they may live in flats no gardens to them the smell of ozone is like the call of the siren, irresistible.

McCanne · 13/05/2020 23:07

I think you’re being unreasonable and entitled, and I think you also know that.

Jenpink83 · 13/05/2020 23:39

Having seen how badly crowded whitby was before lockdown started I think you should not go there. The people who live there are trying to keep themselves safe, and just because you can do it legally doesn't mean you should do it logically or even on some level morally. Why is your familys want more important than a family who live there trying to be safe, just because they live somewhere you like. I'm blown away. It's not worth the risk to anyone.

Original poster
BubblyBarbara · 14/05/2020 00:21

why are you going? Literally nothing is open, no shops, no restaurants, no toilets.

Just to answer this since so many of you brought it up. Do you go to the beach to visit the shops and the toilet or something? I don't. Even in summer, I park on the north promenade, walk down to the beach, enjoy it a bit, then leave. I don't walk to the town or spend a penny there (in both senses of the term).

OP posts:
ellyeth · 14/05/2020 01:37

I do to some degree understand the locals' views but for it to be expressed in what appears to be such an aggressive way I find annoying.

Once the virus is largely contained and things get back to some sort of normality, no doubt these same people will be very keen to have day trippers and holidaymakers visiting their shops, hotels, pubs, restaurants and cafes. Given the current attitude, some holiday makers may feel less keen to oblige.

The same goes for other holiday areas with a similar attitude.

MamaKarmaLlama · 14/05/2020 04:03

Yes, but now it’s not contained. Nowhere near and you can’t blame them for being scared. We are headed for a massive second wave, with people piling on public transport and running to play golf. It’s ridiculous. How many more deaths?

Mrskittycook · 14/05/2020 07:10

Dear bubbly Barbara
Please can I ask you to read and consider this open letter from Cllr Linda Wild Mayor of Whitby. Thanks in advance please stay safe and help the people of Whitby continue to do so.
Dear Editor,
The Government’s detailed COVID-19 recovery strategy makes it clear that there will be no relaxation for the majority of tourism businesses in Whitby until July at the earliest.
The safety of residents remains Whitby Town Council's priority. For now, tourism businesses in Whitby remain closed and we urge everyone to continue to STAY AT HOME and not compromise the safety of others.
We are now in Step One of this plan; people may exercise outside as many times each day as they wish and may drive to outdoor open spaces irrespective of distance, so long as they respect social distancing guidance while they are there. But potential visitors must accept that some public spaces may not be available, because these cannot be used safely.
The public open spaces in Whitby are managed, amongst others, by the borough council and the county council. They will be responsible for assessing public safety in line with the new COVID-19 Secure guidelines - when these are published.

Local people are concerned because Whitby is not built for social distancing. It is important that everyone acts responsibly and doesn’t overwhelm Whitby while we all get to grips with Step One of the Government’s plan.
Thank you to everyone for supporting Whitby and North Yorkshire at this difficult time, we can't wait to welcome you all back again, but only once it's safe to do so and our hotels, pubs, restaurants and attractions are open.

Lockdownproblems · 14/05/2020 07:34

Dont go. You wont be welcome. I live in a beach town and we dont want tourists at all at the moment. Go when lock down is over

SerenDippitty · 14/05/2020 07:55

ve noticed this disgusting priveledged attitude from some people lately that because they live in areas where they have beaches/woods/fields they think they own nature and can stop anyone else using the outside. So people who live in cities and have no outside space but concrete should like it or lump it but people with pretty outdoor spaces can go out in nature as much as they want. The outside is good for your health and its everyones right to access acceptable outdoor space. That includes beaches so unless the beach is rammed (possible) theres no reason for op not to go.

Even in cities there are parks. If you can drive out to a beach you can drive to a park.

HarrietOh · 14/05/2020 08:15

I live by the beach, and the fish and chip shops, ice cream, and famous cafe serving cakes etc are re-opening. I’m up north so not often warm enough for huge gatherings to beach but I am worried that mass amounts of people will flock to the beach now they are allowed. I don’t blame them, I love being near the beach for my walks, I just hope people are careful!

MarieQueenofScots · 14/05/2020 08:25

I don't walk to the town or spend a penny there (in both senses of the term)

Even less reason to go then as you do nothing for local economy at the best of times!

Fowles94 · 14/05/2020 08:38

We live 25 minutes from a massive beach but wouldn't go as that's where the locals need to exercise. It's just not necessary.

ARosebyAnotherName · 14/05/2020 08:55

Whitby isn’t that great. Maybe Take the opportunity to find a nicer beach / town.

You’re perfectly legally entitled to go though so stuff the locals and their “dirty looks”. The “locals” are just people who happen To live in a house nearby. They don’t own the coastline.

ChangeThePassword · 14/05/2020 09:00

Even less reason to go then as you do nothing for local economy at the best of times!

That's the kind of tourist nobody wants to visit their area to be honest. All take and no give.

ProudMarys · 14/05/2020 09:12

I'm venturing out from our town for the first time today with my family since lockdown. The boys are very excited. But we are still staying in our county. I've decided to do the adventure days fairly local for the first few weeks and see how things pan out. If you don't feel totally comfortable then I would wait a few weeks maybe see how it feels to travel to Whitby then. It's still obviously your choice and it's legal to.

lockeddownandcrazy · 14/05/2020 09:14

The town of Whitby lives off tourist income the rest of the time, and happily takes inflated prices from gulliable tourists so if I wanted to go now I would, its legal.

ChangeThePassword · 14/05/2020 09:18

I'm sure that everyone happy for people to flock to the coast right now, would be equally delighted for the areas they live to be inundated with people that just want to wander about for a bit.

Itsywitsyteenyweeny · 14/05/2020 09:27

So for everyone saying it's ok to flock to tourist spots now because 'its allowed' or 'the government said we can', I do hope you remember that in a few weeks time when we have a second peak (which is predicted to be much worse than the first!).

Also, I wonder how many of you are the same ones complaining about schools going back too soon. But then it must be safe because, let's face it, it must be safe because the government said so......

Ferret27 · 14/05/2020 10:16

Xiang Ming....I do think this party cares the least about ordinary working people and our infrastructure .... They put profit, politics and personal betterment first... So the simple answer to that is yes ... Do your own impartial research on how they have damaged the NHS so that companies can profit from the sickest,oldest and poorest in this country... Look at the distraction of our care homes and how they did not add care home figures into the numbers of deaths for weeks... ask yourself why... how they want to stop many of those very same ( immigrant) health workers who are now dying to save our elderly ...
Did you watch Boris pathetic shameful responses at prime ministers questions? Do you know how many times he has actually turned up to face the oppositions questions since he became prime minister?

Ferret27 · 14/05/2020 10:17

’Disrtuction’ not distraction

JeannieW · 14/05/2020 10:20

I live in whitby please don't come here i know your "allowed" but think of the elderly population that live here

Ferret27 · 14/05/2020 10:24

Op..... if you care about the NHS and have gone out to clap every Thursday ( even if you haven’t)
Please Listen to the exhausted front line workers.... this isn’t over for them and their families .... I know of many that have worked a straight 36 days ... are you honestly saying that your desire to walk on a beach is more important than what they are pleading with people to do ...which is stay at home ...shop less frequently and exercise close to home ...this is what they believe will end this nightmare for all of us ...

Mittens030869 · 14/05/2020 10:28

The weather isn't even warm enough this week, it will be cold by the sea in Whitby! (I remember it well.). It's all about proving a point, which I find really sad.

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 14/05/2020 10:31

If you go, park on the road between Sandsend & Whitby and social distance on that part of the beach. Nobody lives on that bit, it’s a lovely bit of beach and you can see the Abbey & harbour piers in the distance.