Plea for people to stay away from the Wicklow Uplands
SINCE measures to combat the spread of Covid-19 were first announced, and with schools, educational centres and many businesses now closed, the Wicklow Uplands have seen unprecedented numbers of visitors arrive on a daily basis.
Wicklow Uplands Council, an organisation formed to provide a voice to the upland communities, recently issued a number of guidelines to inform visitors of public health concerns such as social distancing and to reduce the impact of large numbers, by offering advice on topics such as appropriate parking, litter disposal and dog control.
However, the uplands reached a breaking point two weekends ago, with key stakeholders such as An Garda Síochána, Wicklow County Council and National Parks and Wildlife Service making a decision to close all car parks and facilities in the Glendalough valley until further notice. This coordinated response was due to social distancing concerns and the impact of what was being described as a surge on the area’s residents and the network of narrow roads that provides access for everyone.
Shops in the nearby village of Laragh, which sell essential supplies to local communities, collectively made the decision to also close for the day. The sheer volume of people expected to descend on the area would have made it impossible to successfully implement the procedures they had put in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Shortly afterwards, An Garda Síochána closed sections of the Sally Gap road close to the picturesque Luggala estate for a number of hours, due to what the service described as ‘ traffic volumes and careless parking’. With garda resources being devoted to multiple locations, and a number of cars being towed, the message of staying at home, the need for social distancing and requests for visitors to act responsibly, seemed to have been forgotten or ignored.
Anxious upland communities are now appealing directly to would-be visitors to stay at home and avail of recreational amenities within their own locality. Each visitor brings with them an increased chance of the virus spreading to the area. Each rest stop, each hand that touches a metal gate or stile, each person that engages with another, potentially brings that daunting reality one step closer.
Brian Dunne, coordinator of Wicklow Uplands Council, said: ‘ The upland communities very much understand the desire for outdoor recreational activities, especially at this challenging time. However, the Council asks that people observe Government measures, stay at home, avoid unnecessary travel and maintain social distancing.’
He said the message of avoiding the hills and rural settings during times of crisis is nothing new. In the 2001 foot and mouth outbreak, the Irish community understood the challenges and heeded the call to avoid the hills. They accepted that once the crisis had passed, they would once again be open for all to enjoy and safe in the knowledge that they had positively contributed to protecting our important rural communities.
‘However, this time it’s different; it extends well beyond the need to protect rural economies – this is a public health crisis. As a global pandemic, we must all now understand the immense challenges ahead for each of us. We are all directly affected, and together we must pay heed to these measures and restrictions.
‘Many car parks, walking routes, toilet facilities, restaurants, cafes and other services in the Uplands are now all closed in an effort to discourage visitors, slow the spread of the virus and to protect local communities. We ask that people act responsibly and respect the seriousness of the situation,’ added Mr Dunne.
In response to recent Government announcements, Wicklow Uplands Council is now asking that people stay at home and stay local. Travelling to the uplands for recreational and pleasure activities is contrary to Government measures and exposes local communities to the risk of spreading the virus.