Statement from the Leader of Dorset Council, Cllr Spencer Flower:
Over the weekend we have seen some extremely disappointing behaviour from visitors to Dorset’s beaches. I am acutely aware of how worried and upset many Dorset residents feel about the current situation, particularly when so many of them complied fully with lockdown guidance and when the Dorset Council area had one of the lowest COVID19 infection rates in the country.
The incidents at Durdle Door on Saturday placed a huge strain on our emergency services. There have also been issues in other areas over the weekend with excessive numbers of visitors and people therefore not able to observe social distancing. We’ve seen littering, people urinating and defecating in public, people camping overnight (which is not permitted under current government COVID19 guidelines) and people having dangerous campfires and BBQs – despite extensive warnings against this from all local agencies. Council employees have been abused by the members of the public as they tried to manage the traffic.
My overriding priority throughout the COVID19 outbreak has been the safety and wellbeing of Dorset residents and all decision making has been based on this. We at Dorset Council have done everything we can within the limited powers we have to prepare for and respond to the situation. For several weeks now we’ve been sending out a strong message that potential visitors should ‘think twice’ about coming to Dorset. This ‘Think Twice’ message has been used widely across the country. We’ve managed the opening of car parks and public toilets very carefully in order to cope with demand and manage safety issues, without inadvertently giving out a signal that Dorset is ‘open for business’.
However, since the government announced on Sunday 10 May that lockdown was to be gradually eased and that people can “travel to outdoor open space irrespective of distance”, both we and Dorset Police have had very limited powers of enforcement. For example, since the recent guidance came into effect, the Police are no longer been able to challenge road users as to whether their journeys are essential.
All public services are very stretched due to weeks of responding to the COVID19 outbreak and other major incidents such as the wildfire at Wareham Forest.
Today I have written to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and to all Dorset MPs on this issue. My plea to the government is to review the unrestricted travel guidelines currently in place and require people instead to “stay local”. The current guidelines have a disproportionately negative effect on areas like ours which are popular with visitors but do not have the infrastructure to cope right now. I am worried that we will see a second wave of infection here in Dorset as a result of the high number of visitors to the area over recent days. I’m asking the government to act now to save the lives of Dorset residents. Please help us to help them by issuing revised guidance telling people to stay local for the time being
I agree people been driving miles just to come to dorset beaches I’m currently 31 weeks pregnant and I want to be able to have my fiancé with me please make it that you have to stay local and not come and destroy Dorset
Thank you so much Cllr. Flower. Your letter absolutely sums up the feelings of so many people in Dorset and highlights the problems that have occurred since the relaxation of the lockdown rules.
I live in Beach Road, Burton Bradstock which leads down to Hive Beach. We have been inundated by visitors every day since the announcement, doing all the things you have mentioned and paying very little attention to social distancing. Before the National Trust car park was opened they were even flouting the parking regulations, parking on grass verges, the bus lay-by, on double yellow lines and even the pavements in the vicinity of the beach. It has all been extremely upsetting to so many of our residents who now feel too anxious to go out and enjoy our own local area for fear of catching the virus, particularly as we have been so careful since the start of the lockdown.
I hope your letter has the desired effect so that Dorset residents may continue to feel safe in their own local area.
Thank you once again.
Thank you for sending the letter the content of which I support 100%. Twenty miles maximum to find a reasonable place for leisure and exercise is plenty. Mike Cash Bridport
Hi Kelly, as a grumpy old man I support your objectives and until we are informed that people like you and your fiancé, not forgetting the most important person mentioned in your message, are no longer at risk I will try to maintain your aims. Keep well and safe and remember we are all in this together.
Dave
You should also ask for Mr Cummings to be sacked along with the Prime Ministers sister who have shown a complete disregard to the Governments guidelines which is why these people have been doing what they have.
I said this at the start restricting a radius of travel evidence produced if needing to travel for work …The R rate has risen in the south west
Dorset has witnessed some reckless selfish behaviour…. common sense ? Only those of us who care enough to want restrictions back in place to save lives
So many meeting up on our beaches / teens sat in huge groups ….. school reopening its a huge worry action is needed … fast.
You are so right. The people coming clearly have no clue about how to behave even In the most uncivilised societies. Where are the police? Bring them to sort out all the horrible people coming to our area to destroy it whilst we residents have to stay home – oh and pay for all the costs And damage associated with these’visitors’. we don’t want them – please stop them.
People listened to the government beautifully before Boris Johnson turned his back on them and put Dominic Cummings before them. Boris Johnson I believe is no longer trusted and that is why the people are rushing to Dorset and I don’t blame them.
We firmly agree we had a car load of people beeping at our farm gate in Wareham Saturday evening asking if they could stay the night absolute nerve they had traveled from Northampton for the day and got cross because no camp facilities open anywhere. Obviously not been listening to the news for the last two months .
I totally agree and would like a 15 mile limit on recreational movement. Surely it would be easy to police as the majority of the visitors are travelling from the Midlands and the east of the County so Roadblocks on the Hampshire/Dorset border on the A31 and A35 would prevent the majority of daytrippers entering the County. The authorities must be given the powers to issue large fines for any breaches of these rules. We have seen much evidence of campers, camper vans etc which are breaching the current rules. They also should be dealt with in a much more vigorous way than current slaps on wrists.
I think this is urgently needed. By following guidelines, we have a low Covid infection rate here – and now we are over run by monstrous crowds of those not following the rules and causing trouble.
I suggest that much more can be done by our local authorities to restrict facilities like parking, and access to private property like the estate at lulworth for example. Our local authorities should be showing some gumption in restrictions on parking, and clamp and fine offenders. People will soon get fed up with travelling miles to find parking unavailable. Just going on TV and moaning about it as some councillors have done, is not the answer.
Chris – we are doing everything within the powers that we have, but we have to abide by the laws of the land. And we have found that if we just closed car parks people will still park – just wherever they can causing chaos for emergency services and residents. WE continue to work with other agencies, councils and private landowners to try to control this situation.
If your unable to issue parking tickets and bring in companies to clamp and fine people ( I don’t understand why you can not) Why don’t you find roadworks to do then at the weekend. Dorset and Hampshire have the ability to constantly have temporary traffic controls etc everywhere you go for most of the year, especially at increased times like bank holidays etc.
Get grass cutting on the Bournemouth spur road and imaginative things like that. Lane closures would cause traffic jams, people would go home, and not bother again.
My wife and I have been appalled and deeply worried by the sudden influx of visitors to Dorset from other parts of England. We are both in the extremely vulnerable category and feel it is grossly unfair that they put our lives at risk through their pure selfishness. If there is a second spike here, we will be very angry that more Dorset lives will be lost because of them.
The stay local message should have been maintained. But on the police powers, surely people who abuse defecate and endanger lives, can be arrested and removed on public order or indecency legislation
This has to be the worst decision ever made through the whole episode of this pandemic, why would you release a hoard of marauding germ infested visitors from all over the country down to the west county where we have managed our numbers so well and behaved in a responsible way throughout, its unforgivable , the damage the disrespect and shear ignorance of these people is unbelievable, they are worst than animals and have treated this area and its residents with contempt, they have ignored the police , abused council staff and shown total disregard for the law and common decency, Angry isn’t the word
Well done Councillor Flower. Thank you for taking the lead. Such a disappointment not to have heard anything from our MPs.
I am extremely grateful that this letter is going to Boris Johnson.
I live in West Lulworth and many of the locals are now locked down and keeping to their gardens as we do not feel safe. Some of our residents have been collecting litter from the beaches, I have seen photos of the many bags of rubbish from just one day. I have been informed of people defecating on the beach and along our village roads. The groups of intoxicated people is quite disgusting.
I totally agree and I have emailed the PM (much good it will do) to say as much. We have thrown away all the good we’ve done over the past weeks just so that some thoughtless and selfish people can have a day at the seaside. The traffic jams in the evening on Saturday and Sunday shows it was not just local people visiting the beach. It was people who have travelled many miles, from possibly high risk areas, to play on the sand and leave their rubbish and litter for others to dispose of. Let’s hope the weather breaks a little and brings a respite from these mindless people.
My wife and I could not agree more people should not be allowed to travel more than a certain distance and the authorities should be able to close areas were social distancing is not possible
I also agree with the message: “Stay Local”. However, who defines local? People have become very frustrated with their lives and are now grasping at the opportunities to “get out”. However, they are not thinking about anyone else than themselves. Kelly and the thousands of Dorset residents who are worried about the transmission of Covid-19 should be able to have their safe space. How do we square this circle? What about those who not able to travel to and stay in Dorset to be with their friends and families, or in their own homes there?
Agreed stay LOCAL we DO NOT WANT people overcrowding our beaches etc stay away we will all regret it later
I support the Stay Local message. Dorset will be still here for visiting when it’s safe to do so.
Absolutely correct ..People have proved they can’t apply common sense…So remove the temptation…Local travel only and hefty fine if caught in breach…
I share your sentiments entirely but I fear it is a waste of time expecting the Government to change their advice. Boris Johnson is hell bent on opening up the country regardless of the continued threat of Covid 19.
It was almost with relish he told the public they could travel as far as they liked to sunbathe etc, thus tying the hands of the police in enforcing social distancing measures.
So good luck with your letter but don’t hold your breath for a meaningful response other than platitudes and hand wringing.
Thank you.
Well said. 100% agree with your views. Thank you for writing to PM.
If that does not work can we have a online poll, regarding stay local.
People should be made to stay local (within 5/10 miles of home)
Far stronger powers needed too to make people take their AIR AMBULANC/ RNLI/ COASTGUARD atchome with them!
Appalling sights obver weekend here in Dorset
Beaches also far too crowded and no apparent controls inmplace to limit numbers
Irresponsible parking can also be a threat to emergency services accessing people in real need due to no fault of their own.
I HOPE IDIOTS WHO JUMP OFF DURDLE DOOR WILL BE INVOICED FOR COST OF RESCUEING THEM!!!!
Fully support. We can’t cope with the sudden influx and ignoring distancing was alarming. Yes to considerate visitors in limited numbers who respect guidance.
We need our police to be fully supported.
They’re doing their best with iffy government directives.
Thank you DC.
I think Boris should have allowed to either drive only in our own county or be able to drive a maximum of twenty miles from our homes.It is unfair that people come down and flout the rules concerning coronavirus and risk our lives by being so selfish.They obviously have no manners or idea how to behave if they leave masses of litter and urinate and defacate in public areas.It is very disgusting.It was great tthat you wrote to the prime minister to make him aware of the problems we have.
Good letter but will anybody take any notice?
As to visitors’ behaviour, unfortunately you cannot legislate against stupidity and selfishnes.
This public response is entirely due to ambiguous and opaque messages from the government. As soon as the slogan ‘enjoy outdoors’ hits the screen people who have been cooped up for weeks throw off the restraints and rush off to anywhere attractive, even if the services cannot cope with them. Dorset was only partly prepared for anything like this . No doubt there was no communication from central government on this relaxation before it happened?
I Agree wholeheartedly stay away from Dorset.
Yet again the government haven’t thought this through. Holidays abroad are not available so inevitable the masses are going to head for the coastal towns and country. A perfect recipe for a resurgence of the virus.
Appalled that tonight Mat Hancock is removing the “draconian” elements to the lock down measures. A green light to parking on double yellow lines, no social distancing, travel as far as you like, behave as if you’re in a holiday camp and leave rubbish and the virus behind. Beginning to lose faith in the government’s handling of this and the speed of relaxing safety measures. I am beginning to lose faith in the mantra its science led. How about issuing parking fines on mass and tow away obstructing vehicles?
Excellent letter ….have just heard it mentioned on the radio news and hope it will make a difference. We Dorset residents have been staying away from our beaches for safety reasons and it is a “slap in the face” to have them overrun by badly behaved tourists!!!
I absolutely endorse the above and have said all along that there should be a limit on the distance people are allowed to travel for leisure. I think, in light of this last weekend’s dreadful happenings, there should be at least a ten mile limit. I live only yards from the beach in Mudeford and witnessed piled up rubbish on the grass verge. People who do this should not be afforded the privilege of visiting our beautiful county and should be confined to their own areas. I am very happy to see families come and enjoy the coast but they must treat all the UK with love and respect.
Agree. Wales has a 5 mile travel limit, Scotland is about to impose one, please don’t let England be dominated by irresponsible travellers.
I agree with the plea indeed i think it should be a demand and set in terms of a limit of no more than 20 miles travel for exercise etc.
At long last someone is challenging the PMs too generous and dangerous guidelines. Immediate restrictions of local travel (10 miles) need to be introduced immediatelt
We are an elderly couple living in Highcliffe in Dorset. We both have underlying health issues and are in our late 70’s. We have been self isolating since the start of lockdown and are appalled and frightened by the crowds of people coming to our area and using our road as a car park!! We should now be able to walk locally but, because of the hoards of people close by, we are too frightened to venture out as we don’t feel safe. Surely this isn’t right?!!
Thank you Cllr Flower for writing to the Prime Minister and explaining clearly that muddled and incautious decisions and statements made by him have affected parts of Dorset. Police have been made powerless and people who have followed the rules and guidelines feel resentful and frightened that a wave of Covid19 will affect the county.
I wrote to my MP about the problem of people coming to Dorset a couple of weeks ago. The reply, stated that “the crisis is a health issue, but it is also an economic crisis”. I do not see how people travelling many miles to Dorset, where shops are closed, helps the local economy.
The letter also states, “I speak weekly with the local Police and they have put in place a robust response to those breaking the rules. Enforcement is a challenge for the police but this is being backed up by the local councils and the Government to try and ensure that the rules are followed.” The Government then took away the Police powers to send people back home.
Last weekend saw the Police and local council staff overwhelmed by the numbers and appalling behaviour of the visitors. Also has to be considered is the strain on the NHS and Coast Guard etc trying to rescue people who ignore notices and put themselves and others at risk by jumping off the Durdle Door Arch.
As a local I would love to be able to go to the beach, but I am not taking the risk after seeing the pictures on the TV News.
I fully support the council stance.
I am a local resident and have fully complied with the lockdown rules. I personally love to enjoy the beach for a swim but the scenes witnessed at all Dorset’s beaches during the last fortnight have kept me away from a personal safety standpoint.
I will be extremely cross if having acted responsibly, I am further penalised with another lockdown as a result of totally irresponsible and selfish visitors who quite frankly abuse our beautiful county.
During lockdown, they have not even spent any money in the local economy and their actions have cost the ratepayers too much.
A very unhappy resident.
A brilliant and acurate statement plus a well worded letter to the Prime Minister. In short “The truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth”. Thank you Sir.
I read with interest your views and applaud your sentiments. I am shocked, however,to read about Council and Police having LIMITED powers?! Surely urinating and defacating in public are grounds for fines at the least?! The strong message obviously is NOT working,so maybe a revision of Police powers should be looked at. It is a disgrace that human beings should act in this way.
My wife and I live in Hampshire and for some 10+ years we have owned and enjoyed our caravan on a site near Wareham. We regard Dorset as our second home, visiting our caravan for a few days at a time every fortnight, enjoying and respecting our beloved Dorset, its countryside, coast and its local population.We are in the ludicrous position where could visit the area for the day, passing within some 400 yards of our caravan site, but not allowed even to visit it for the day. Because of the irresponsible actions of a relatively small number of idiot individuals, we are now being vilified by your your council and told we are not welcome. Unless this attitude is modified and qualified by your Council, when we are eventually allowed to return we will remember this unnecessary hostile attitude towards us, and will probably not give the local economy our support as previously. Also, who started the Wareham Forest fire by using a portable barbecue – I don’t think it was visitors!
Despite the horrendous scenes at Durdle Door on Saturday , people came on Sunday and ignored road closed signs .As you point out , the police were powerless to enforce anything re travelling despite the fact that social distancing and larger group regulations were being broken. Please protect the people of Dorset who have been so conscientious in following the rules ( look at the data) and insist on travel distance restrictions with police able to enforce the rules.
I think that horse has bolted!
In a few weeks hotels B&B’s and campsites open and we will be deluged with people coming on holiday, although that will help businesses it will maybe spread Covid 19.
This is so important. My husband and I are low risk, asthma and post-cancer respectively. We ventured out as a couple only last week to sit on Chesil Beach for 2 hours, then returned home. That was the first time I had been out in over 10 weeks. My husband going out only to fetch supplies. This really has to be dealt with.
This is so important. My husband and I are at risk, asthma and post-cancer respectively. We ventured out as a couple only last week to sit on Chesil Beach for 2 hours, then returned home. That was the first time I had been out in over 10 weeks. My husband going out only to fetch supplies. This really has to be dealt with.
I agree it is ludicrous that the government did not limit the distance people can travel. I also question the mentality and social conscience that people traveling to beauty spots have, when they leave litter and despoil the areas that they come to see. It seems we are a two tier nation, ones who care about each other and the environment and those who couldn’t care less about anyone else except themselves.
HERE HERE! Selfless ness replaced by selfishness . We are still all in this together ,staying local should be mandatory. There are plenty of open spaces to enjoy on everyones doorsteps. Social distancing is a priority and means everyone, no exception. Common sense takes thinking about , use it or we’ll all suffer for the senseless minority.
Mindless idiots all of them. The cost to the helicopter service will be staggering.
When the spike of deaths rises next week as it will most certainly.
We will be in another lockdown due to mindless people.
We are happy to walk in our local area or garden and not risk others why cant they.
The Government if you can call it that, has a poor if any sense of direction.
Marshall Law will be the only answer if this situation does not improve.
Stay local to where you live – stay safe.
Stay Safe – Stay Local – Stay ALIVE !
It was far too soon for any restrictions to be eased. The lockdown should be made far stricter and should be much more heavily enforced. More rigorous legislation is urgently required, not a lessening of restrictions. The police should be given even more powers (and should apply equally to Englan, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland) and those selfish enough to put other people’s lives at risk should face the courts and be heavily fined with imprisonment for anyone caught more than once. This is the only way the UK will beat this dreadful pandemic.
We totally agree with the letter sent to the PM by the Dorset Council both my wife and I are both in our 80s and live in Dorchester & while people flock from all over the country to our beaches & very likely bring the virus with them our intention is to remain in lockdown until people are told to remain at home.
Totally agree. We have seen no social distancing as late especially from the younger generation. Skate park in kings park very busy. Beaches packed. We do not want our town put at risk.
I could not agree more. While one might easily sympathise with urban dwellers who have been kettled up for several weeks, the rampant and undisciplined even uncaring attitude of a small minority are wrecking so much for everyone else. Surely Portable barbecues must be banned during this period of high fire risk. The right to roam legislation is also flawed presenting further issues for landowners and farmers alike.
I’ve not had the opportunity to go abroad for the last 40 years or more and quite frankly by air doubtful never until if this pandemic ever ends and hopefully all countries learn from the lessons this has taught us. Its simple take only pictures and memories and leave nothing behind!
No surprise that thousands here in the UK might feel the urge to ‘holiday’ and so we will face huge pressures on the countryside while people take up the habitual lemming like existence they’ve been so used to for years especially when going abroad. There is sadly a good deal lacking in a slice of the human race, common sense being the most obvious.
Malcolm
I agree completely, I have been self isolating for the past 10 weeks. Today I heard that shielded people can now go out, but with the terrible behaviour of visitors to Dorset these past few weeks, I personally would rather stay at home!!
The risk of an acceleration in covid19 in Dorset due to the lack of social distancing, & the general appalling attitude towards residents of Dorset by the public has made it intolerable. Time something was done to stop this.
A few people today went to the weir at Wareham to collect litter left by unthoughtful people at the weekend. They filled a 4 x 4 with black bags which then took him an hour before he could unload at the local tip.
I fully support your efforts to protect Dorset residents, I live in a rural seaside village where second home owners have been blatantly ignoring the rules and coming regularly to stay in their holiday homes with partners arriving for weekends. Behaviour such as that exhibited by visitors to Durdle Door is extremely selfish, stay local, I agree.
I agree wholeheartedly with this statement.
Please restrict recreational travel
Maggie
Thank you for urging the Government to re-think on this issue. I was walking to and from work, in an attempt to exercise and keep depression at bay. Since the relaxation of permitted travel, it has been impossible to social distance of even one metre, so now forced to drive. Weymouth is overcrowded now.