Cars queueing at Ainsdale Beach in Southport. Photo by Susan Prue

Visitors are being urged to stay away from beaches in Southport, Ainsdale and Formby after the Government eased coronavirus lockdown rules. 

Until this week, people were limited to one hour of exercise a day close to their homes. But after an announcement by Boris Johnson, that has now been extended to unlimited hours, with people able to drive where they like to enjoy their time outdoors, anywhere within England. 

Vut Sefton Council is eager to deter crowds and says that “although people can visit the coast, these locations are not able to cope with high levels of visitors at this time”.

It follows images on Stand Up For Southport on Sunday of dozens of cars queuing to get to the beach in Ainsdale.

Susan Prue, who posted the images, said: “Cars far too many ….in the sea far too many ….picnics far too many. What part of stay at home do people not understand .GO HOME.”

 

 

Southport Pleasureland boss urges lockdown restrictions to continue

Sefton Council closed its beach car parks at Ainsdale and Southport at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in March and said today that they will remain shut in the short term.

Public toilets will also remain closed to ensure social distancing and the safety of cleaning staff that would be required to clean them.

All visitors to the coast must adhere to Government strict social distancing guidelines and barbecues are strictly not permitted. 

To minimise the chances of infection, the Council’s Green Sefton team is asking visitors to the coast and to parks to take their litter home with them. The Council is also asking people to continue being its eyes and ears and to report any large gatherings to the police by dialling 101 or to [email protected]

Other coastal resorts have also told visitors to stay away amid concerns that people may be drawn to the seaside as the weather improves and the lockdown is eased in England.

The tourism body for Blackpool has rebranded as Do Not Visit Blackpool in an attempt to discourage visitors after new guidance came into force on Wednesday allowing people in England to “travel to open space, irrespective of distance”.

Simon Blackburn, the leader of Blackpool Council, said the UK government’s new message meant there was “nothing we can do” to stop visitors but he urged people to stay away.

Sefton Council is instead encouraging people to take advantage of the new guidance by visiting their own local parks and greenspaces rather than travelling longer distances.

And, it is asking those people who do visit its sites to treat them with respect and take their litter home.

A council spokesperson said: “We would remind people that despite the minor changes announced on Sunday, the Government is still stressing the importance of people staying at home except for the reasons it has specified. And that when people do need to go out, they should follow the guidelines on staying safe outside the home.

“These include maintaining your distance from people outside your household, keeping your hands and face as clean as possible, avoiding crowds, from being face-to-face with people outside your household and washing your clothes regularly.”
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