Visitors flock to beauty spots in first day out after lockdown

Good weather and cheap petrol draw around 15m people to beaches and other outdoor attractions

THOUSANDS of people were accused of ignoring pleas to use their common sense yesterday as beauty spots and national parks saw a sharp rise in visitors at the start of the first weekend since lockdown was eased.

Bosses of councils and national parks as well as police urged people to stay away rather than risk angering villagers who remain fearful that visitors, particularly those from cities, could be spreading coronavirus.

The good weather, along with the cheapest petrol prices since 2016, is expected to result in some 15million drivers taking to the roads this weekend.

It is the first time in eight weeks that people in England have been granted greater freedoms, with outdoor exercise no longer limited to once a day, and day trips to English beaches and beauty spots also allowed.

Such visits – which can include sunbathing and picnics – must be done either alone or with members of the same household, with no overnight stays permitted.

Councils in Brighton and Hove, Scarborough and Whitby warned that roads leading to popular beauty spots would be closed if too many people turned up.

St Mary’s Island in Whitley Bay was yesterday closed off, with a sign declaring it was not open to visitors.

The Peak District National Park declared the Langsett area “extremely busy” and social distancing guidelines difficult to maintain.

Amid fears motorists unable to find space at tourist car parks were heading to nearby villages, the authority warned local residents were worried visitors posed health risks.

In Cumbria, police broke up a “super car meeting” in which motorists driving high performance sports cars were intercepted by officers near the M6.

Some people attempted to travel to Welsh tourist destinations from England, despite Wales remaining under strict lockdown rules.

In Pembrokeshire, Dyfed-Powys traffic officers stopped a rented white Transit van from Bristol. “The three occupants stated they were going to the beach, there was also camping equipment within the vehicle,” the force said. “All three reported for non-essential travel, vehicle turned around.” A black Nissan Navara was stopped at

Llanteg, having travelled 200 miles from Wokingham, Berkshire.

In the Yorkshire Dales eight people were handed Covid-19 fixed penalty notices after being caught sitting round a campfire on the moors where they had pitched their tents for the night.

Cllr David Taylor, of Dorset council, said residents had complained how since restrictions were eased there had been a “dramatic increase” in the number of people visiting second homes in Weymouth, Charmouth and Lyme Regis. “They think nobody is noticing what is happening,” he said.

Dorset Police urged people to use their common sense, adding how the new rules were not a “green light to flock in huge numbers to Dorset’s beauty spots or visit second homes”.

Car parks in Dartmoor had to be closed after becoming too crowded. The car parks at popular Haytor, Postbridge and Newbridge were locked by lunchtime. However, there were complaints some police forces had adopted a heavy handed approach with motorists. Sussex Police had warned visitors to “be prepared to change your mind” if tourists discovered destinations were busy, adding: “Go somewhere quieter or visit another time.” Despite the warning a large number of people were seen relaxing on Brighton beach.

Visit Weston-super-Mare and North Somerset council were adamant they did not want tourists. The council declared “wish you weren’t here”.

Malcolm Bell, chief executive of Visit Cornwall, said the region was largely protected from an influx of tourists because visitors faced lengthy round trips, serving as a powerful deterrent.

The South Downs National Park asked people to help keep the local air cleaner by staying home as much as possible and keeping visits to the park car-free. Live traffic tracking by TomTom found congestion on roads around major cities including London, Birmingham, Newcastle and Bristol, had increased by up to 20 per cent yesterday compared to last week.

Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn’s brother, Piers, 73, was detained by police at a demonstration in Hyde Park, London, after he used a megaphone to claim coronavirus was a “fake virus” linked to the 5G network. Police arrested 19 people and issued 10 fixed penalty notices at the protest.

200 miles

The distance travelled by a Nissan Navara from Wokingham in Berkshire to Llanteg in Wales, despite strict lockdown rules there