Public are warned to avoid Easter trip to hill
PEOPLE are being warned to avoid visiting Holcombe Hill this Easter amid fears of a surge in coronavirus cases.
Each year, thousands of people make the trek to Peel Tower, near Ramsbottom, on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Boiled eggs, which have often been decorated, are then rolled from the top of the hill, with onlookers cheering on their progress.
The tradition dates back hundreds of years, although the origins are unclear. One theory is that it represents the rolling away of the stone from Jesus’ tomb before his resurrection.
However, Bury council is warning people to stay away this year as large crowds ‘would make social distancing impossible’.
The car park on Lumb Carr Road will be locked to dissuade people from driving to the hill.
Coun Andrea Simpson, Bury council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Some people are looking at the restrictions in terms of what they are legally allowed to do.
“A better way of looking at it is ‘ how can I stop this virus spreading and protect myself and my family?’
“Please continue to follow the rules for now: they are there to protect us.”
Under the government’s roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions, outdoor gatherings of six people or two households are now allowed.
While the ‘stay at home’ rule ends, many restrictions will remain in place.
People are advised to minimise the number of journeys they make where possible, and avoid travel at the busiest times and routes.
The number of Covid19 infections that were recorded across Rossendale dropped further this week, with just 47 in the seven days to March 26.
Last week Rossendale was briefly the only borough in the county which had more than 100 new cases per 100,000 people, but that rate now stands at 65.8, compared to the English average of 56.2.