We shouldn’t blame the fun-seeking youngsters

PARTIES outside the Senedd, mass gatherings at Ogmore, Barry Island and other places?

I don’t necessarily condone them but I do understand why they are happening. These young people have been in “lockdown” for so long, not going to school, college, university and work, along with missing out on their usual social activities of clubs, pubs, visiting friends and parties, etc.

They must be terribly frustrated and many will not have family restraints to keep them busy at home. They are looking for fun and we older, more settled people cannot blame them. The venues they have chosen have been outside, so reducing the risk of passing on the virus.

However, many aspects of these events do upset me. The lack of social distancing – they could still mix near each other without getting so close. Young people may be a bit blasé about catching the virus as they think it won’t affect them much but it can and worse. How would they feel if an older relative catches it from them and becomes seriously ill? Then there is the litter left. My young relatives would never dream of leaving such a mess behind. I’m sure the people were taught to “bring litter home” as children and others, including children, should not have to be confronted by such filth and drug paraphernalia the next day. These gatherings also cause unsafe parking issues and impact on local residents.

Perhaps someone could come up with ideas for organised gatherings using outside venues but regulated by encouraging some social distancing, security/police/drug workers, etc, and with the provision of adequate toilet facilities. The situation could be more controlled and this way the young people would have somewhere to go without causing so much nuisance and distress. Let’s

Gill Irwin, Pantmawr, Cardiff face it, without some control these events are going to reoccur throughout the summer, causing major problems for police, residents and the rest of the community until the clubs and pubs and other organised outdoor venues reopen.

Gill Irwin

Pantmawr

Are some protests more acceptable?

SO are all these people who turned up to the seaside at Bournemouth irresponsible?

Well maybe not; just remember all those who gathered at Hyde Park in protest at the death of George Floyd in America, and locally not that long ago the blocking of the centre of the Cardiff for three days by global warming protesters.

It’s a reality now in the UK that some disobedience by “acceptable” groups or people is OK while others are, for varying reasons e.g. Bournemouth, unacceptable. Sorry, but what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

Paul Botto

Splott, Cardiff

Beeb, please lighten up a bit

WHEN COVID is history will we look back and recall how the BBC news kept our spirits up? I very much doubt it.