People living in tourist spots should probably be concerned right now.

[MonkeyToesOfDoom]

Now that Boris has said people can drive for exercise and leisure, you know they'll flock to seaside's, lakes, peaks, etc.
Which means if they're carriers they'll be spreading the virus to petrol stations pumps, gates, railings etc.

I don't get the logic behind him saying that tbh.

Yes I don't want to. I'm fed up of being the one following the rules when for example people have been partying on VE Day And not taking social distancing into consideration. They were so close to each other. I saw my neighbours drinking and having barbecues together while I was following the rules and staying in my own house with my own family.

As I said I will keep my distance but I will drive to places whether you want to see me there or not because I am allowed.

I know others feel the same as I do.

These areas (beaches for example) are for everyone to enjoy and not only for the ones that live walking distance from them.

If you are nervous about catching the virus then stay at home.

Vanilla... I shouted because you don't seem to realise not everyone wants to/or can/or can afford to drive miles and miles into the countryside.
Some people like cities and don't want them infecting with the virus again when workers re-enter them ... some people consider the city their safe haven and home.

Some people like cities and don't want them infecting with the virus again when workers re-enter them ... some people consider the city their safe haven and home.

That's fine, where have I said it wasn't?!

You're just ranting to yourself

As I said I will keep my distance but I will drive to places whether you want to see me there or not because I am allowed.

Personally I don't care what other people do as long as they keep their distance. Which is fine if it's possible.

But the problem comes when everyone has the same idea and social distancing then becomes completely impossible.

@ErrolTheDragon yes I will definitely keep my distance and if I see the area is too busy I will walk away and go somewhere different. I don't want to put anyone at risk but I don't think it's fair to be told that I'm not allowed to drive to a beach I used to visit regularly because the locals don't like it.

@LifeMatters absolutely ...
seems to be ok to order shit from Amazon or food orders from Waitrose, risking the safety of lesser humans so some can lord it in splendid isolation.

It's not fair ... I meant ...bloody phone 🤦🏻‍♀️

risking the safety of lesser humans so some can lord it in splendid isolation

Did you just call Amazon workers and delivery drivers lesser humans? Fucking hell... Whatever city you're in, I hope everyone stays away from.. 😝

I'm curious to know if other 'country folk' have seen the sort of rule breaking described by LifeMatters. I haven't.

I will definitely keep my distance and if I see the area is too busy I will walk away and go somewhere different.

That's great ... unfortunately I doubt many people who've driven a considerable distance with their families will be as sensible. The further people have travelled, the more likely they'll misjudge the conditions and the less likely they'll give up and go home if they can't find a suitable alternative.

Grendlsmother
I don't think it is remotely realistic to compare the few people from tourist areas which have tiny populations - travelling to the nearest supermarket in town, with the wholesale invasion of summer tourists.

The permanent population is 550k in Cornwall. The tourists exceed 4 million annually.

There are currently 15 intensive care beds in Cornwall. Plans are to raise this to 68. With a death rate of 0.048 % that will mean around a couple of thousand deaths IF they had adequate beds... this policy is just beyond ridiculous and no wonder the devolved parliaments have closed their borders .

If I lived in Devon, Cornwall, New Forest, Norfolk Broads , Dale's Moors and Lakes - I would be fuming.

The problem is that this policy relies on people using common sense - when it's clear from this thread alone that the general population is peppered with a huge amount of self absorbed , selfish imbeciles, who care about nothing more than their own enjoyment.

@Grendlsmother you're projecting what you've heard and read elsewhere onto the posters on this thread. I can't speak for anyone else, but I haven't ordered anything online since this started in order to do my bit towards lightening the burden on the postal and other delivery services, nor have I received any Waitrose or other food deliveries. And I know many others who have done the same.

I don't class mesen as proper country folk, my town is a rural market town surrounded by country. From my house i can see farmers tracks and the like mind you.
I've seen plenty of distancing breaking since lockdown started. It's damn near impossible to stay 2m away from someone on paths that are only 1m wide. Especially with cyclists and joggers in groups.

We live in a touristy area particularly popular with day trippers from nearby cities - mostly on bikes and motorbikes. There’s been a steady stream of visitors for the last few weeks, however I’m not too worried about catching the virus from them as I’m vigilant with my hand hygiene. The extra pressure on the NHS from twats on motorbikes flying round blind corners on the wrong side of the road however is a real concern and one we endure every year. Risking your own life and that of others by driving as fast as possible down country roads is neither exercise nor an essential journey!

@ErrolTheDragon I will not drive far and changing areas will definitely not going to be a problem. I don't know about others but I definitely don't intend to drive to Cornwall to go for my walk.

Anyway others will always know better and Im not going to start a conversation about this atm but I honestly think the media has been feeding us only the negative news. We need some more positivity around this subject. It's so easy to condemn others.

Having said that, if people from nearby cities drove to our area for a country walk I wouldn’t be too annoyed. My adult DC live in a city centre flat with no garden. Their local parks are heaving so it does make sense that some of those in a similar position use other less crowded areas, leaving city centre parks for those without access to cars. I appreciate that it probably won’t work that way, but I can see the benefits if people don’t completely take advantage.

LifeMatters ... so you're not the sort of person likely to be a problem, the thread isn't about people travelling reasonable distances and being sensible. If the cap doesn't fit there's no need to wear it.

The OP is obviously not referring to Amazon delivery drivers as 'lesser people' fgs can't people read nuance anymore... ?

She is referring to people who want to 'Lord it over others ' thinking of amazon drivers as lesser people !

Jeez it's like teaching reading comprehension to 8 year olds .

I don't live in a tourist area OP but I fully understand your concerns. The policy is bonkers.

Public transport will be busy for day trips out of urban areas. Not sure if this is a good thing or bad thing

disorganisedsecretsquirrel we’re in the lakes and someone just sent me a screenshot of the top comments to a DM article about this issue... really horrid comments. People get so riled up... please listen to us when we say we’re in a hotbed! The new Lakes slogan should be “come for your corona!”.... we’ve had so many (healthy people) so sick for so long... they’re not even close to recovery, what happens if there’s a second wave? Boris is sacrificing those yet to recover, he’s risking tourists’ lives... why can’t they have a sensible plan of action

I absolutely trust the majority to be sensible... but it has been a pretty nasty minority breaking the rules (locals and others) and they’re really mean to deal with :( especially when you’re mourning loved ones :(

We do have rural secondary schools where all except key worker and vulnerable children have not been allowed to go. We have had GCSEs and A Levels cancelled, university places uncertain. We have plenty of adults and families on minimal wage, seasonal work and no wage, FSM, poverty. There is a lack of public transport and affordable housing, especially when prices have been driven up by holiday lets, second homes and affluent relocators. The rural idyll is far from the whole picture, but the truth doesn't look good on holiday photos, postcards, Instagram and Countryfile.

And 'because some people are nervous' - no. It's a global pandemic. It's a bit more than 'nervous'. As pps have sadly described, people have died, are in ICUs and hospital miles away, or taking weeks to recover from a 'mild' case at home. There is a genuine concern that opening up to widespread travel between areas too soon will cause unnecessary deaths, especially for rural and coastal areas surrounded by huge populations with generally a higher number of Covid-19 cases and who have now been given permission to visit en masse.

The problem is the people going whoopee at section 1.7 without having properly read and understood section 1.2

(So, not people like LifeMatters or anyone else being sensible)

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do

@ErrolTheDragon thanks for sharing the link. I had a good read

who have now been given permission to visit en masse.

This is the problem with the advice... anyone can go as far as they want, that would be ok if they would all think of different places rather than the obvious choices. There is no permission to do anything 'en masse' . There's only permission to do things if you can ensure adequate distancing.

As with so many things it's a mismatch between rights and responsibilities.

I'm sure there will be people loudly expostulating about their right to travel wherever they want, forgetting that this is conditional on their responsibility to ensure social distancing.

Maybe the message from tourist areas needs to be: if you can't park somewhere sensible, go home. If you can't keep sufficient distance because too many others go here first ... go home. You've got the right to drive here but no right to break the law (be it parking or distancing) when you get here.

The guidance contradicts itself. How can you be told to minimise the time spent away from home at the same time as being allowed to travel far and wide (in England) for exercise in the outdoors? Surely minimising time spent away from home means staying local?

The freedom to go as far as we want, isn't really the freedom to go as far as we need to reach a popular resort...

It's a subtle distinction, but an important one.

Escape by all means, find you spot by all means... just don't head for well known spots where there are likely to be countless others of the same mind.