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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:
Newenw · 12/05/2020 19:54

Derailing the OP’s thread slightly, but I hope all those living in England are aware that they can’t travel into Scotland or Wales. I know the Welsh police are all set to turn people away as restrictions have not been lifted here.

lilgreen · 12/05/2020 19:54

I think it’s fine op.

nocoolnamesleft · 12/05/2020 19:57

YABU. How many thousands of people are thinking exactly the same thing? Beauty spots will be swamped. And most beauty spots are in areas with seriously suboptimal medical resources... Look at Cumbria, one of the hardest hit parts of the country.

YouCannotBeeSerious · 12/05/2020 19:57

Nah, go for a walk at Sandsend instead, easier to park and you get a nice view of the beach all the way up to the Abbey.

CatAndHisKit · 12/05/2020 19:57

It won't be heaving tomorrow - cold and wet as per forecast! So I think it's fine for OP to go, but by Saturday it will warn up and then the crowds may appear (which is wrong).

Nuked1981 · 12/05/2020 19:57

@Biscuit0110

* We too live in a beauty spot, it gives me as a local great pleasure to see families coming back flying kites, having picnics again and having fun. It has given me a sense of normality that has been missing for so long. I don't begrudge these people - or consider this to be 'my' space and only for me. As long as everyone sticks to the SD as they have done up to now anyway, I am glad to have so many happy faces around me.*

I want to know what beach you live close to - as such a lovely post!

Although at the same time, I’d get a real and genuine thrill from finding out the beaches of posters who also tell mumsnetters to piss off away from “their” beaches!

MistyIsland · 12/05/2020 19:57

I would! It would do us the world of good to get out of the house and away from the area for a few hours.

I’m debating doing the same on Friday! Just not Whitby.

Go and enjoy yourself (however I expect that a lot of people will be doing the same and it won’t be very peaceful and social distancing will be a nightmare)

Scruffyoak · 12/05/2020 19:58

How do people know if you are local?

OnlyJudyCanJudgeMe · 12/05/2020 19:58

@Newenw

“Derailing the OP’s thread slightly, but I hope all those living in England are aware that they can’t travel into Scotland or Wales. I know the Welsh police are all set to turn people away as restrictions have not been lifted here.”

So are we in Scotland.

Lynda07 · 12/05/2020 19:59

I would LOVE to go to Whitby (& Filey); they are on my list for when lockdown is over,

CatAndHisKit · 12/05/2020 20:00

otoh if the toilets are closed I can't see how those crowds can go anywhere far from home! Of course in someplaces the locals can crowd the place but that's a different topic.

DoAllMeerkatsComeFromRussia · 12/05/2020 20:00

I live five minutes by foot from a beach in Yorkshire (not Whitby) and I won't be going to sit on it. It doesn't seem an adequate reason to be there as far as I'm concerned. I'm the least anxious person ever and very much in the "what will be, will be" camp but I still think we're putting other people at risk if we take part in non essential journeys, so why would you? Your reason to be there is just because you fancy it. It wouldn't matter if you lived in Whitby, IMO you shouldn't just go sit on a beach.

YouCannotBeeSerious · 12/05/2020 20:00

How can people tell if you're local?.....

Because you pronounce Redcar as 'Red-cu', and make a comment about how the Magpie is shit and Hadley's is better.

Simple.

sutchie11 · 12/05/2020 20:00

I think it is unreasonable and inconsiderate to the local people. Most things will be shut, you'll be lucky to be able to get any food other than a sandwich in a supermarket, and probably no toilets.

Mr Johnson saying you can is a good reason as well. A man whose inaction has led to needless deaths.

Scarlettpixie · 12/05/2020 20:02

I don’t think you should go.

The locals deserve to feel as safe as possible while taking daily local exercise and you and the many others who think they are entitled to drive for an hour for some sea air will take this away from them.

Wait until stuff is open.

forgetthehousework · 12/05/2020 20:02

Like the OP we love Whitby and visit several times a year
We've already had to cancel one holiday there this year and will probably have to cancel the next in just a few weeks time as I expect lockdown restrictions will have to be reintroduced.
Why?
Because of the selfish, entitled, bloody minded 'I'm allowed to do it, why should I think about anyone else' attitude of everyone here who is agreeing with OP to go ahead because the locals don't matter!
I am so tired of people who are only interested in 'me'.
The biggest mistake Boris has made so far is expecting everyone to use common sense, as it is obvious that many are incapable of it.

BeltaneBride · 12/05/2020 20:06

Just do it, You are endangering no/one.

Toomuchtrouble4me · 12/05/2020 20:06

The law says that you can because the government are worried about the economy but they are hoping that people will be responsible and sensible and try not to spread the virus - esp into communities where the population have limited resources and hospitals designed for local capacity. I think it would be selfish of you. I drove past our local beach here this morning, there were two families, distanced, swimming. no facilities were open on the seafront, it is usually our busiest beach.

Greenmarmalade · 12/05/2020 20:08

Will there be any toilets open anywhere?

Toomuchtrouble4me · 12/05/2020 20:09

BoJo isnt telling people to travel because its safe ffs - he WANTS us all to get it - Herd immunity, survival of the fittest and he can keep the money moving.

CaptainBrickbeard · 12/05/2020 20:10

I don’t understand the ‘have a lovely time’ comments - will it really be lovely? Worrying that your car might be keyed? Not having access to a toilet? Not being able to get a hot drink? I think it would just be a miserable experience that would only reinforce how strange things still are. It wouldn’t be a nice day at the beach.

CrowdedHouseinQuarantine · 12/05/2020 20:10

omg this very issue was on jeremy vine.
who owns the bloody beach!
go where you want, but there are no toilets or cafes.

CrowdedHouseinQuarantine · 12/05/2020 20:11

we went to the beach today, only for a couple of hours, and it takes less than an hour to get there.
personally i wouldnt want to spend a day somewhere far away with no toilet facilities.

Toomuchtrouble4me · 12/05/2020 20:12

Scruffyoak Tue 12-May-20 19:58:27
How do people know if you are local?

Because in most small coastal areas we have an elderly population and people are being careful - we're not using the beaches.
Apparantly Brighton is packed.

GarlicSoup · 12/05/2020 20:12

Completely selfish OP