Drones check the seafront

Council to act on ‘growing concern’

DRONES are being used by the council to monitor the number of people going to the seafront during lockdown.

Concerns have been raised about people flocking to the seafront for exercise and takeaways.

While both are permitted under lockdown rules, the sheer number of people has made it ‘very dif ficult’ to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

At t he weekend, Portsmouth City Council hired a drone to monitor the footfall, and is looking at what action needs to be taken to kee p people safe.

Footage obtained by the council showed thousands of people between South Parade Pier and Eastney, and while many are sticking to household bubbles, the concentration around coffee shops has been a cause for concern. The News has asked the council for this drone footage.

Amid calls for restrictions to be tightened, council leader Cllr Gerald

Ver non-Jackson says it’s a catch-22 of obeying lockdown rules without damaging local businesses.

He said: ‘There is a growing concern about how t hings are operating on the seafront.

‘We hired a drone to get some footage at the weekend, so we can see what the numbers are actua l ly l i ke.

‘When I have been out, people have been g athering around in groups at takeaways – so we have to make sure that’s not happening, without hindering businesses in the process.’

Current gover nment statistics show 1,292 new coronavirus cases in Portsmouth over the past seven days, with Professor Chris Whitty saying the worst is yet to come for the UK.

The Tenth Hole and The Briny, in Southsea, and The Canteen, in Old Portsmouth all closed over the weekend due to concerns about excessive gatherings.

At South Parade Pier, people will be encouraged to queue along the promenade, rather than across it.

Outside Southsea Beach Cafe, signs will be put up to remind people not to gather in the area, and the council is considering putting wardens in the area too. Near the Cof fee Cup in Eastney, the benches will be removed to discourage loitering – and these won’t be returned until the end of the pandemic.

When I have been out, people have been gathering around takeaways. Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, council leader

Picture: Habibur Rahman CROWDS Thousands of people made their way to Southsea seafront over the weekend, as they did at the start of the pandemic in March 2020 (pictured)