For me, and I know for most of us, it isn't about feeling that local people own the beaches or countryside, or that (considerate) visitors aren't welcome at normal times, it really isn't. I, for one, would like to reassure everyone of that. Some of my friends and neighbours rely on visitors for some or much of their income. And after all, I am a (hopefully, considerate) visitor when I go anywhere with my family, be it to the coast, another National Park or, more rarely for us, a city or town.
The difference at the moment, and only at the moment, because we are in the middle of a global pandemic is that it is not considerate or safe to visit. Boris might well have thought that he will win votes, popularity or avoid blame for a second wave or peak, by allowing people to travel unlimited distances in England, but it does not make it a wise decision or a welcome one for many. It's far from welcomed by local councils, police, RNLI, coastguard and mountain rescue volunteers, National Park authorities, hospitals and minor injuries units, ambulance, fire and rescue, local residents and most businesses including small village shops. Ignoring all these concerns, Boris has said people can travel and so, ignoring all these concerns, some people will do so. We are not ignoring all these concerns, we are ignoring Boris and staying local.
What we are seeing locally in our National Park:
- Heavy and standing traffic, almost constantly, from morning till evening.
- Full car parks and/or cars parked on narrow lanes, grass and paths, making access difficult or impossible for emergency vehicles, farmers, deliveries and local residents, including the disabled.
- A rapid increase in air pollution since the Wednesday before last from traffic, circling to park and engines left idling.
- Littering, including human and dog excrement both in bags and not, picnic wrappings, burst footballs, broken plastic children's and dog toys, alcohol bottles and cans, nappies, cigarette ends and disposable barbecues.
- Increase in fire risk from cigarettes and barbecues.
- Social distancing being ignored or made impossible by sheer numbers of visitors or the geography of the locations - eg narrow tracks and paths.
- Visitors using small local village shops for picnic supplies, reducing limited stock levels for local residents without cars, especially the elderly and vulnerable, who rely on them.
- Visitor numbers and behaviour at levels likely to increase viral spread amongst themselves and to/from local residents and service providers including shop staff, police and rescue volunteers.
- Local residents, especially the vulnerable and elderly and those living with or caring for them, who feel that they cannot leave their own homes seven days a week from morning till evening to go for a walk or to the village shop because of the level and behaviour of visitors.
This is what is unwelcome, not considerate visitors in normal times. Should we welcome this at the moment? Would you welcome this where you live or work?
This is destroying a beauty spot, not enjoying it. Don't be a covidiot adding to this. Stay local, just for now. Come back later, and you'll be welcome.