Alarm over ‘irresponsible’ gatherings
A resident has criticised “irresponsible” people who congregated near Bath Abbey.
A picture taken of the scene shows lots of people sat on benches in the Abbey courtyard seemingly listening to a busker on Sunday, February 21.
Sitting on benches to socialise is not currently allowed under government guidelines.
The Abbey courtyard has already been identified as a hot spot for coronavirus rule-breaking by local police where groups of 20 to 30 have been moved on.
Local resident Aida Lirola said the same problem was happening yesterday which looked like “any Sunday before the pandemic” as people were “sitting down drinking coffee, eating and talking” and enjoying the music.
The frustrated resident said: “I can not believe it. This photo is taken from my house Sunday, February 21 in full lockdown. People [out] as if there were no Covid, with musician included.
“This happened around 3.30pm, people were sitting down drinking coffee, eating and talking, and enjoying the music of a person who was there playing music.
“There were more people passing through that area, it honestly reminded me of any Sunday before the pandemic.
“I do not understand how irresponsible human beings can be, it is
known that they are only allowed to go out for the essentials and do sports for 1 hour, not sitting down for coffee.”
Government guidelines say you are allowed out to go to essential shops and for daily exercise, not to socialise under the current coronavirus lockdown.
Sergeant Jon Raisey, has said previously that socialising on benches is not allowed under the current
restrictions and the force has had to move people on from that spot.
The neighbourhood sergeant for Bath city centre said: “What we’re seeing in Bath is that people are meeting up to have a coffee on a bench. As coffee shops are open people think it’s okay to sit and drink it.
“It’s a confusing picture but that is not one of the reasons you should be out and about. I think some people
meet up for a walk and then sit and have a coffee, I can see how it happens as people want to catch up with friends.
“We’ve worked hard with Bath and North East Somerset Council to put up signs explaining this on some of the benches in the city centre where this was happening.
“Places like the Abbey courtyard we’ve had to disperse groups of 20 to 30 people and Victoria Park.”