The rules around visiting the beach this bank holiday
GROUPS OF SIX CAN MEET, BUT ONLY LOCALLY
EASTER bank holiday this year comes as lockdown rules in England have been eased to allow some outdoor activity to resume coinciding with the school break. With some coronavirus restrictions lifted allowing groups of six people or two households to meet up, many are planning how they can make the most of their time off .
Here, we take a look at what the government guidance says.
Can I travel to the beach?
People can meet in groups of up to six people from any number of households, or larger groups of people from just two households. This is permitted in all outdoor settings as well as in private gardens. Meanwhile, outdoor sports facilities can reopen, such as tennis courts and golf courses. The “stay at home” advice has been changed to “stay local”. However no guidelines have been issued to clarify what distances are considered local. People should continue to “minimise travel wherever possible and should not be staying away from home overnight at this stage”. Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed that this weekend, he will be spending the day in Suffolk with his friends, which is potentially a two-hour drive away from his home in London.
Mr Hancock explained to ITV’s This Morning on Monday that people should aim to minimise travel, but could travel in England to see family and friends.
He said: “We’re saying that you should minimise travel, but if you want to travel to see friends and family then that is absolutely fine.” Therefore, people are technically permitted to travel to beaches, even though it’s not in the spirit of “staying local”. Earlier this week, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) warned people to be careful ahead of lockdown restrictions being eased, and a string of unusually high tides.
Part of their statement read: “The combination of increased numbers of people, the potential easing of restrictions and the school holiday could put a huge amount of pressure on the RNLI’s volunteer crews.”
“That’s why
checking
the weather and tides using a trusted online source or a tidal prediction app before setting off on any trip is essential.”
Can I travel to a beach in Wales or Scotland?
Government guidance for England states that you may now leave England to travel to other parts of the UK - but there are restrictions in place in Scotland and Wales that prevent travel for non-essential reasons.
Travel between Scotland and England has been banned by the Scottish government, unless you have a “reasonable excuse”, such as going to work, to attend a wedding or funeral or to move house. The same rules apply in Wales.
What about a beach abroad?
People who are tempted to travel further afield, on a foreign holiday, for example, risk being issued a £5,000 fine if they try to leave the country.
Under new Covid laws, published by ministers last week, people are officially banned from travelling abroad without a reasonable excuse.
People at airports or international train stations could be landed with a fine.