Exercise in sense

Dales fears new visitor influx

WHILE MANY people will undoubtedly have been thrilled that limitations on outdoor exercise have been removed as part of the easing of lockdown – with the undoubted physical and mental health benefits that will bring – there is growing unease in communities across Yorkshire about a potential influx of visitors from tomorrow.

The news that people can travel to other places to exercise from Wednesday has been particularly alarming for those in picturesque areas that are normally popular with tourists along Yorkshire’s coastline and in its National Parks.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has written to the Prime Minister asking for a limit to be placed on how far people can drive to take exercise over fears of a “huge influx of thousands of visitors, travelling halfway across the country to come to the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales”. Robert Goodwill, Conservative MP for Scarborough and Whitby, said he has been contacted by constituents in North Yorkshire concerned that the virus could be spread by visitors from areas that have been harder-hit by Covid-19 unwittingly passing it on.

With thousands of new cases being confirmed each day, along with hundreds of deaths still taking place, it is entirely clear the virus is very far from being eradicated.

Equally, any visitors will find that the normallywelcoming places they travel to are essentially closed for business with shops, cafes and even car parks closed down.

It is vital that people exercise not only their bodies but their simple common sense and refrain from travelling outside of their local area.