to wonder where all the beach revellers are toileting?

[fiveforty]

I think I'd rather stay at home

If a privately run place can get its shit together, it’s not a big ask for councils to do it

Unfortunately everything's a "big ask" for too many councils; their overall mindset is to find a reason not to do something rather than find a way of making it happen, and Covid's a new and exciting opportunity for a bit more control

Obviously some of it's genuinely necessary, but I wouldn't have thought keeping toilets closed counts (and clearly the ones who've opened theirs don't think so either) Given the handwashing facilities I'd almost rather use a public loo than a lot of other places, but between mulish attitudes and the drive for countless meetings to decide anything at all, I wouldn't expect action any time soon from the worst of them

Puss? Piss!

If it’s not a priority, why provide them in the first place?
what? the beach?

Or existing facilities which access could not possibly be altered because of a pandemic...

@GBarmy your attitude to stupid tourists stinks as much as your beach will.

Stupid tourists support the economy and your livelihood.

I think you should perhaps consider your career choices.

No one is breaking any rules by moving around the country and enjoying the beach or countryside. You are allowed to do that.

I don’t often agree with you @Puzzledandpissedoff, but on this occasion you’re absolutely spot on.

Thanks Alsohuman - seems even I'm not wrong all the time

People who are doing what the government has told them they can.

please please please link to us WHERE did the government told anyone that it was ok to go to places that were clearly not opened for non-local visitors?

Or do you mean the government didn't expressly forbid people to act like animals - but pretty sure there must be some existing legislation somewhere about the right or not to litter, spoil or just vandalise any area, public or private..

No one is breaking any rules by moving around the country and enjoying the beach or countryside. You are allowed to do that.

absolutely

HOWEVER no one has ever been allowed to leave rubbish, to urinate or poop everywhere because they feel like it, may it be a bush in Edinburgh or a crowded beach on the South Coast.

please please please link to us WHERE did the government told anyone that it was ok to go to places that were clearly not opened for non-local visitors?

Here you go:

^And from this Wednesday, we want to encourage people to take more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise.

You can sit in the sun in your local park, you can drive to other destinations, you can even play sports but only with members of your own household^

That was Johnson on 10 May.

The thing is, if people spend months being told that what they have to do is follow the rules, then when you change the rules to "You may drive as far as you like to beauty spots and beaches", it's not exactly surprising if they go ahead and follow those new rules. And the excitement of being allowed to do so is blinding (stupid) people to the practicalities of potential crowds and lack of facilities. The government should have kept the advice to stay local.

@Frouby thank you for your concern, but I am quite happy with my career choices. I'm a HCP and see first hand the devastation this shitty virus is causing on a daily basis. I also happen to live by the sea, in an area with one of the highest viral loads in the country, and can almost see the numbers rising in front of my eyes.

For the vast majority of the time, I obviously don't have any issues with people flocking to this beautiful area. But right now, I do think people are stupid if they can come here expecting business as usual. I have no problem at all with people enjoying the beach, so long as they dont expect feeding, watering and toileting (and they take their rubbish home with them)

@PafLeChien you can't close a beach. It's public. A public beach.

It's very league of gentlemen on this thread .

Alsohuman

you didn't quote anything about using public places as your personal toilet.. which is what the problem is.
So you are wrong, but you knew that...

Blackpool has a great deal of social deprivation behind the scenes (not that far) and quite a lot of elderly and vulnerable residents. The Council works fucking hard to balance making it a fun place to go with taking care of the people who live there. As do local businesses and residents.
Rolling up with all your shit (literally) expecting it to be ready to cater for your needs because of some ill thought out throw away bollocks said at the daily briefing is arrogant.

I'll have a party round my house when I can hold a party. Rock up on my doorstep because you want a party - that's twatty behaviour.

or people could take their rubbish home with them and not be fucking dirty bastards who leave it for others to clean up.
Er.. yeah but that wasn’t what I asked !

Frouby
you can't close a beach. It's public. A public beach.

actually, of course you can. It has been done and it can be done again. Why would you think otherwise?

It's shocking that you would have to, and people couldn't show a little bit of common sense and manners.

If you ever had young children, tell me you didn't take a travel potty with you when you were going out for the day or a few hours, because you knew they would need the loo at some point... Tell me you don't bring your children to the toilets before boarding a plane because you know there won't be any during boarding and take-off.. People don't start pooping in the aisle because the loo are closed for whatever time, do they?

If you manage that, then you can plan a day on the beach - if you know it won't be possible to wait until you go home, then you just... don't go? You don't start pooping on the beach

you didn't quote anything about using public places as your personal toilet.. which is what the problem is.
So you are wrong, but you knew that...

I answered the question you asked. You didn’t mention toilets in your question.

Toilets are open at the beaches near me.

@Gbarmy apologies, I had you mixed up with a previous poster who didn't want to serve me in their local business just now.

I've lost my fil to covid so also seen first hand the devastation. Have close family working in care, my stepsister and her husband are nurses, a dear friend of mine is an end of life care nurse working in care homes, my dsis is NHS bank. I also see the devastation.

But people moving around the country to these places was always going to happen. This summer could absolutely make or break many tourist businesses. And the local economy of seaside towns is very reliant on the tourists flocking. Am sure in your role you also see the affects of poverty and the devastating consequences of that.

Instead of saying 'don't come, we won't host' why not say 'come, enjoy the beach and the businesses that can open will happily serve you, use public loos and car parks, use the bins etc'.

No one expects normal right now. But people are right to expect at least public toilets and bins to be emptied. Parking issues can be addressed by using businesses still not able to open car parks and charging a few quid maybe. Pubs with kitchens can offer picnics and drinks to takeaway. Caravan parks could open their car parks and cafes, campsites offer their fields for parking.

It doesn't take a lot of imagination to open the seaside up to day trippers. The more facilities open, the more people walking off the beach to use them. More carparks (taking an income for doing it) means less inconsiderate parking. Bins emptied means no rubbish left (hopefully).

It's unlikely people will be going abroad this year. The UK tourist industry needs to embrace this fact and take advantage of the 66 million potential customers it has and make the most of it.

Garden centres campaigned to be able to reopen, seaside businesses should be doing the same, they are just as seasonal.

If I was a business owner and lived by the coast I would absolutely be making plans to do very well this year regardless of covid 19. We are in construction and absolutely trying our very best in difficult circumstances to have a good summer because come next year it may be a very different story.

CaptainMyCaptain schools are not open to all yet as far as I'm aware? that's why I said 'for key worker's children'. When not on rota they've been working from home.

Alsohuman
I answered the question you asked. You didn’t mention toilets in your question.

apologies, I thought it was a question, not that you were deliberately obtuse and trying to wind people up

"No one expects normal right now. "
But they do. That's the problem.

But they do. That's the problem.

sadly many of these people should have been at work on a normal Thursday.. they know better than anyone else that things are not "normal".

The bank holiday weekend and beginning of half term - which people have planned to book anyway - is going to be very interesting.

People who are doing what the government has told them they can

In fairness, they are pretty stupid. Just because you CAN, doesn't mean it's wise. I'm not particularly afraid of catching coronavirus or passing it on (I see almost nobody on a day-to-basis), but I think huge crowds are a risk most people should be wary of taking.

I can shove a fork up my nose, doesn't mean I should.