COUNCIL URGES COMMON SENSE AS CROWDS FLOCK TO POPULAR AREAS
AS hundreds of people flock to Wexford quayfront every day during lockdown, Wexford County Council has advised everyone to exercise common sense and avoid crowds when they go out walking.
Always a popular amenity, the quayfront has proved to be an even bigger attraction for walkers and joggers in recent weeks with the opening of two pop-up cafes also leading to large numbers of people queueing for refeshments and gathering on benches to enjoy food and drinks.
Concern has been expressed that some of the activity may not be in line with Level 5 lockdown measures and social distancing guidelines.
However, County Council Director of Communications David Minogue this week defended the current use of the quay while strongly advising people to stay safe.
‘People are entitled to exercise within a 5km radius of their homes and since there are 20,000 people living in Wexford town they are all entitled to walk on the quayfront,’ he said.
‘It’s a fantastic amenity and one that Wexford County Council is very proud of but we would urge people to exercise caution when attending any public amenity they whether that’s the quayfront, a park or the beach.
‘If they arrive and they feel there are too many people there, they should consider going somewhere else.’
Mr. Minogue pointed out that the quayfront is a large amenity which is capable of facilitating a large number of people comfortably and when it comes to Covid-19 safety, being outdoors is better than indoors.
‘But we would advise people to remember the basic safety measures we have learned over the past nine months – maintain social distance, use hand gel and wear a mask.
‘Don’t go where there are crowds if you can help it. Use your common sense.
‘ The quayfront is a public amenity that was built for people to enjoy and Wexford County Council is delighted that people are using it.
‘We would encourage people to go there for a period of time and then to go home and let someone else enjoy it.’