BRITONS CAUTIOUSLY ENJOY NEW FREEDOM
BRITONS headed for the great outdoors yesterday as they began to cautiously adapt to the loosening of lockdown rules.
Plenty took advantages of newfound freedoms but an anticipated rush failed to materialise, as a poll showed many people have been so spooked by the pandemic they are too scared to go out.
A stampede of 15 million day trippers was predicted but traffic was up by just three per cent, as many stayed at home despite some lockdown restrictions being lifted.
The AA said in a statement: “Despite a heavy temptation to travel to beaches and day out favourites, Brits have decided to stay at home today.
“Over the last few weeks, many have walked and cycled locally and discovered hideaways and treasures they may never knew existed, so may have chosen to stay local.”
So-called “coronaphobia” saw people make shorter journeys within 10 miles of their homes, or just stay in the garden.
Research by Redfield and Wilton Strategies showed that only one in five people would be confident returning to more normal activities by June.
The poll found it would take until September before nearly half (49 per cent) would feel moderately or very confident about normal life.
Almost three-quarters (74 per cent) also said employers should be legally obliged to offer staff the chance to work from home where possible.
The ban on travel to beauty spots was lifted by Boris Johnson on Wednesday and there were isolated pockets of overcrowding.
The Peak District National Park closed some of its car parks after they became “extremely busy”.
A spokesman said: “Car parks in the Haytor, Postbridge and Newbridge area are now too busy for social distancing to be observed. Please can potential visitors to Dartmoor avoid these areas.”
Police officers were also seen stopping cars from London heading to Brighton’s beach for the day, even though it is no longer banned.
A spokesman for the National Police Chiefs’ Council said: “Police still have a role to act where people are gathering in groups with those not in their households.
“We also have a role where something not designated as a reasonable excuse occurs, such as going on a holiday, travelling to second homes, and visiting others – unless it’s for a reason set out in the regulations.
“We will continue to police by consent, and use common sense and discretion to determine what is reasonable.”
Meanwhile a senior British Transport Police (BTP) officer came under fire after he travelled from Glasgow to his family home in Yorkshire during the lockdown.
BTP confirmed Chief Supt Eddie Wylie returned to Yorkshire from his rented flat in Glasgow on two occasions between March 21 and May 13, but said he did not breach Covid-19 regulations as the trips were work related.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said the journeys suggest Mr Wylie “believes there is one rule for him, and one rule for the rest of us”.