People urged not to crowd beauty spots
Plea to think twice about travel after lockdown as visitors risk infection rise
VISITORS TO Yorkshire have been urged to take “personal responsibility” and not crowd the county’s beauty spots over Easter, amid fears that coronavirus infection rates could rise if too many congregate.
People are now able to travel freely after lockdown restrictions were lifted on Monday, but worries about crowds, and images of litter strewn across the countryside left by visitors, have led to concerns that those travelling may not behave responsibly.
But members of the public are still being asked to consider if their journey is essential and if they can stay local.
Groups of up to six, or unlimited numbers from two households, are now allowed to meet outside or in private gardens, and yesterday and on Tuesday thousands gathered at parks and open spaces throughout Yorkshire.
The rate of infection in North Yorkshire is currently 43.7 cases per 100,000 people compared to the England average of 55.4.
Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC), said individuals have a responsibility to avoid areas that could be crowded.
Scarborough, Whitby, Malham Cove, and Sheepwash near Osmotherley, are all places the council has identified as being at risk of Easter crowding.
Coun Les said: “The message is still to stay local, we mustn’t waste the opportunity we’ve got to move out of the previous lockdown arrangements.
“We’re asking people not to go to places that get very crowded. You can socially distance on Whitby beach but you’ve got to walk through a very tight set of streets to get there.
“If people aren’t exercising selfcontrol, we would have to make a stronger statement and ask people to stay away.
“It would be such a shame to go back into another lockdown because we can’t manage our social distancing properly.
“Our responsibility is to warn people that certain places will become very busy. After that it’s down to personal responsibility to say ‘well in that case, we won’t go there on Bank Holiday weekend, we’ll leave it until later on the summer.’”
Tourism bodies in Cumbria and Cornwall have also asked tourists to stay away over Easter.
It comes after parks and open spaces across Yorkshire were left strewn with litter after thousands of people flocked to them on the hottest March day in 53 years.
Seven tonnes of litter was left in Endcliffe Park, Sheffield, on Tuesday, where temperatures reached 22.1 degrees yesterday.
In a press conference yesterday, NYCC leaders pleaded for anyone driving to beauty spots to turn around and choose another place to travel if they see car parks full.
Richard Webb, North Yorkshire’s director of public services, said: “Stay local, discover the quiet places, and avoid crowded ones.
“Having lived and worked myself in other parts of Yorkshire, Durham and Teesside, all of these have other great places to visit.
“If you live on the other side of our borders, please discover what’s on your own doorstep rather than travelling miles into North Yorkshire.
“Please treat our community how you would wish your community to be treated. It’s all about respect.
“If you lived 60 or seven miles away how would you like people to travel to your town en masse?
“Someone’s beauty spot is someone else’s home.”
Tom Hind, chief executive of North Yorkshire Moors National Park, said extra patrols and park rangers will be on the Moors over the weekend.
He said: “We are delighted to be able to welcome people back. We recognise how important it is for people to get back in the great outdoors.
“The toll the lockdowns have taken is really significant. It’s got to be borne in mind that the National Park is someone’s back garden. Make sure you understand the government guidance. If it’s busy, move on.”
We’re asking people not to go to places that get very crowded.
Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council