DON’T THROW IT ALL AWAY!
Health Secretary’s plea as he threatens to close beaches after crowds pack the coast, risking new virus peak...
BRITAIN’S beaches could be closed to prevent the resurgence of coronavirus, the Health Secretary warned last night.
It came after the heatwave triggered a frenzied rush to the seaside which led to ‘irresponsible and selfish’ scenes and a major incident being declared on the South Coast.
An army of 500,000 visitors overwhelmed Dorset and forced the authorities in Bournemouth into an ‘emergency response’ after they clogged up roads and dumped tons of litter on beaches. Coastal beauty spots around the country saw drunken fights amid blatant flouting of social distancing rules by crowds of young revellers.
There were also scenes of shocking violence against officers trying to end a street party in Brixton, south London, on Wednesday night. Police fear there could be widespread drunken disorder on July 4 – dubbed ‘Super Saturday’ – when pubs and restaurants can reopen.
It prompted Matt Hancock and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty to warn the public not to undo their success in tackling the pandemic. Mr Hancock said he was ready to order the closure of beaches if there are repeats of yesterday’s packed scenes at Bournemouth and other hotspots.
‘We do have that power. I am reluctant to use it because people have had a pretty
tough lockdown and I want everybody to be able to enjoy the sunshine,’ he told Talk Radio.
‘But the key is to do it with respect for the rules – stay with your household, stay a good distance from other households.
‘But we do have those powers and if we see a spike in the number of cases then we will take action.’
The Health Secretary added: ‘ The number of cases is right down, but we must all stay alert. The sun is shining and of course everyone wants to enjoy the glorious weather, but the Daily Mail is right that we mustn’t throw it all away. Keep to the rules or we risk going backwards.’
Official figures released yesterday suggested that the retreat of the coronavirus pandemic has stalled and the number of people infected in the UK may even have risen.
Prof Whitty stressed: ‘If we do not follow social distancing guidance then cases will rise again. Naturally people will want to enjoy the sun but we need to do so in a way that is safe for all.’
It came ahead of a crucial week for the Government, who have announced lockdown measures will be eased significantly on July 4 to boost the struggling economy.
Boris Johnson said on Tuesday that ministers would ‘trust in the common sense ’ of the British public when rules are eased.
Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far with a temperature of 33.3C (92F) recorded at Heathrow. Families visiting some beaches did attempt to follow social distancing rules – but that proved impossible in Bournemouth, where the area was overrun for the second day running.
Car parks were full by 9am and hundreds parked illegally on pavements and double yellow lines. Traffic wardens issued a record 558 parking fines. An astonishing 33 tons of litter, including human waste, was removed from the stretch of Dorset coast yesterday. Some illegally camped on the beach, including at upmarket Sandbanks, and used it as a toilet.
Incidents of anti-social behaviour included drunken fights and staff manning road barriers to turn motorists away from full car parks further along the coast at Lulworth Cove were sworn and spat at.
By yesterday afternoon the situation was so serious that Vikki Slade, the leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council declared a ‘major incident’.
She said she was ‘ absolutely appalled’ at the beach scenes, adding: ‘The irresponsible behaviour and actions of so many people is just shocking and our services are stretched to the absolute hilt trying to keep everyone safe.’
Tobias Ellwood, the Tory MP for Bournemouth East, was told by police there were 500,000 visitors in Dorset yesterday. He said: ‘These are selfish people who are threatening to prolong the pandemic and also litter our beautiful beaches.’
The beach was also busy along the coast at Brighton, where hundreds of youths gathered on an area of green on Wednesday evening, chanting at police attempting to move them on.
Other seaside flashpoints included police being called to a ‘large group of people fighting’ at the beach in Exmouth, Devon, the same evening. In Plymouth police were out in force around the waterfront after heatwave-related ‘unacceptable behaviour’ by large groups of people.
And in Southend-on-Sea in Essex a seafront brawl and other incidents of violence prompted deputy council leader Ron Woodley to call for the Army to reinforce police to regain control of the streets.
Meanwhile, the hottest temperatures so far this year have prompted a warning from United Utilities to households to cut water usage or face a hosepipe ban. With children cooling down in paddling pools and parched flower beds needing watering, levels are receding at reservoirs in parts of the country.
‘These are selfish people’