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 would like to see beach side car parks closed again until the ‘R’ rate is lower. I’m one of the people who has been shielding for 10 weeks and I know I shall be very disappointed if we have to lock down again because of the actions of some irresponsible people.
I am appalled at the behaviour of the crowds of people swarming on our beaches and beauty spots.
If something isn’t done soon, the R level will rise in Dorset, because of selfish individuals, and we will be back to square one.
I am classed as vulnerable and have been obeying all the rules, why can’t others .
I agree that travel should be restricted to counties, look at the fiasco at Durdle door. Those irresponsible idiots caused all those people on the beach to be hurded like cattle, how many of those now have Covid 19. All that cost could be put towards local cases. Way people are behaving a bigger lock down is on the horizion.
This is a very sensible letter, and the suggestions it contains should be adopted immediately by the government.
– I really think you are wasting your time writing to the Governement, these people under ‘normal’ circumstances would probably be in Spain causing issues there, but they are stuck in the UK..
– limiting travel to 5 miles is not really sensible and totally unpoliceable…
– we all knew the weather was going to be the way it was, closing approach roads beyond Poole would have been far more sensible..
Difficult one as living where we do we are privileged. I can understand people’s need to seek out lovely places to go after weeks of lockdown.
Having said that, I cannot understand why Boris said that it was ok for people to travel as far as they want. It was a huge jump from what had come before.
Also, no time for local government to lay out a plan etc.
Contrasts sharply with Wales where people can now travel up to 5 miles!
Was Boris planning to help a certain person with whom he was closely associated ?.
Hard to believe you’ll get any support from this government when I has already defended the journey from London to Durham and Barnard Castle by its own chief advisor
I cannot see the comparison between Cummings’ journey and the behaviour of all these louts that now seem to think they can come to our county and wreck it at will, set fires etc. No comparison, just a political point.
Please ask government to restrict people to their own counties to keep us safe
I’m really pleased to see this it’s so upsetting for all us locals who have done things properly we can’t get out locally because everywhere is so busy,there is no way the government should have said people can travel as far as they want let’s hope the figures don’t go up in this area.
I agree. Dorset has probably the lowest infection rate in England but this will go up with this influx of visitors whose numbers are such that social distancing is not possible for them. Up to yet, local people seem to have kept very well to safety guidelines.
I totally agree that the travelling should only be within your County borders. Here in Dorset we have been very lucky, but with irresponsible people and a Possibility of another spike with Covid 19 the Government needs to think again.
I would rather lockdown was stricter and we recover quickly than a relaxed one with devastating results for our community.
Thank you Mr Flower and I hope our MPs take this on board.
About time. I have been saying this from the moment the PM announced his unthought our ridiculous statement that people could travel any distance. I gave written to my MP, My council and 10 Downing St.
The sort of people coming to Dorset fo not have a clue how to behave and my great fear now is that having discovered Dorset they will continue to come.
Dorset residents who pay for all our services now stay at home, unable to use our countryside or beaches.
This is a complete betrayal.
Where Are the police.? Bring them in numbers and deal with the trash that now see it as their right to come, destroy and return again.
As Dorset (Christchurch) residents my wife and I were shocked by the images we saw on TV over the weekend.
It is absolutely essential for the Government to “TELL PEOPLE TO STAY LOCAL”.
WE, and all our friends and neighbours, have obeyed the Lockdown Rules and do not want all our efforts ruined by these groups of thoughtless people ……
Please stay away until its safe to visit
Dorset had isolated so well as the death rate shows , lifting the lockdown will make all our effort pointless .
Thank you to Dorset Council for at least trying to keep Dorset safe. I doubt if the government will listen to you, but you are doing more than BCP have. All they seemed to be interested in was getting the revenue from the car parks, not realising the cost of clearing up the beaches from litter, ncluding human waste. I wonder how many Dorset resident were using the facilities which we pay for!
I fully agree with Mr Flower’s letter. Once our local tourist industry is permitted to be fully operational, then that is the time, and not until then, to allow full access for visitors as the facilities to cope with large numbers will be there, fully staffed. To open the floodgates of visitors now , when most facilities are closed, shows either a lack of planning for the consequences, or a lack of concern for local residents.
Well Done! We’ve done our bit … and are still doing the best we can; it’s time for the national government to support us. Follow the lead of Wales – severely restrict the distance people can travel for recreation.
I agree that people should not be allowed to travel long distances. Where ever you live there are green spaces within a few miles. I am a vulnerable elderly native of Dorset and am more afraid of the resulting outcome of the last few weekends than I was about the virus at the beginning. I fear we might end up with more cases than we have had to date. That is aside from the burden the County already has to bear from the cost of the fire at Wareham and this weekends emergency deployment at Durdle Dor and the cleansing of the beaches and surrounds following abuse by visitors from afar.
Thank you for drawing to the Government’s attention the necessity for police and councils to overrule naive national guidelines where local circumstances demand it.
I thoroughly support this action: thank you taking it. It’s particularly galling to those of us who are ‘at risk’ that strangers may bring the infection to our area when so far it has the lowest incidence in the country!
Totally agree. If they close county by county it will be as a direct result of the visitors that lockdown our Dorset businesses
I strongly support and commend the views expressed by the leader, Spencer Flower. Perhaps a petition should be launched on the government website with a question about banning travel from outside Dorset?
Well done Spencer. I just hope the Government will take notice to your plea.
Thank you for trying to protect Dorset residents. I doubt the PM will agree as he will see it as a backward step but worth a try. Is there anything more that can be done unilaterally by the Council?
I think I have replied directly to Council letter,
I am one of many local residents who live in aDorset who are saddened by the recent images of beautiful Durdle Door.
We have the same problem on the Bournemouth Beaches, involving anti social behaviour too.
We hope to be able to receive visitors later , but at the moment is not right.
Please deter visitors risking lives and overwhelming NHS , just when there is some relief, as well as all the other emergency services..
Open [ ALL ] the toilets….asap
any risks are more than outweighed by the benefits .
I am sure the people of Durham feel the same, but weak leadership from the prime minister with regard to the Dominic Cummings lock down scandal has fuelled this sod it I will do what I like attitude. When the prime minister and many Conservative Dorset MPs actively support different rules for the elite, don’t be surprised that you end up with many ignoring them altogether. Unfortunately Dorset and many other tourist regions are likely to pay the price of this
If and when there is a second Covid 19 outbreak.
I fail to see the comparison.
We are talking here about people who probably don’t even know who the PM is, never mind about Dominque Cummings.
Fail to see or don’t want to see?
The government’s decision to allow people in England to travel without a limit on distance was badly advised, the scenes at Lulworth on Saturday were truly shocking. I agree with all the points raised in your letter to the Prime Minister. Thanks to all the Dorset Council staff who are doing their best to keep us safe.
I am in my 80s and care for my disabled wife. Just when we are gaining confidence to emerge from isolation into our own local area, we hear the stories of people in the middle years who have had more freedom in their own home areas and are now, not just visiting and enjoying Dorset, but running rampant. From what I see and read they are inconsiderate, rude, certainly selfish, rule-breaking and ignorant. Their selfish behaviour is going to take confidence away and prevent people such as us from adjusting after lockdown. I would like the police to be given authority to issue really heavy instant fines or jail under temporary emergency legislation.
I have been horrified at the antics of people at Durdle Door – I have been following the lockdown rules to the letter – last week it was my Mother in Laws funeral, and not even her brother or sister could attend- please restrict people from travelling outside their own area! Our R number will rocket if people do not stay away- plus ….. if people are going to tombstone, and injure themselves, make them pay for their rescue, and subsequent healthcare, as this should not be met by the taxpayer- perhaps a bill in excess of £200,000.00 may act as a deterrent?
I work in Sainsbury’s in Ringwood, Friday evening was very difficult. We had visitors from outside the area shopping, the social distancing was impossible and they did not seem to careless about it either. Very un-nerving not a peasant xperience
The local police were eager to control local people using the essential travel rules; in my case insisting that roof repair was not essential unless carried out by a professional. Why are they not enforcing road closures and protecting council employees? Perhaps ANPR could be used to charge tolls on people coming into the area; it works for London.
I think everyone should have a 20 mile radius from their home
Agree completely with Councillor Flower. Please respect our beautiful county.
This would not have happened in Spain!
We are governed by a bunch of Incompetent idiots from top to bottom who just feed us ambiguity and conflicting advice.They are a disgrace.
Any moron who coughed or spat at a policeman would quickly end up on the floor with his skull cracked open and he would deserve it.
Please Tell people to stay in their own areas. We cant go on like this in Dorset. Have you seen the filth they leave behind. Boris Johnson. Its heartbreaking. They set fire to our forest. Yes the locals dont do this. incase your thinking who done this. Help.us.
Thank you councillor I think Boris was totally wrong allowing people to travel under such circumstances most people in Dorset has abided by the rules all these weeks and really do not want this worry of people coming and spreading the virus
Well said. I am the sole carer for my 86 year old mother who has severe visual impairment and other medical concerns. She is housebound and totally dependent on me. Due to social distancing I cannot even take her a walk around her garden as she needs physical support. However others are allowed to travel wherever in England flout the guidance and behave in a totally disrespectful manner. Very disconcerting.
I am so pleased to hear that someone is taking this seriously. With many people unable to travel abroad this year this problem is only going to become worse. I live a 5 minute walk from the beach and I am having to stay away as it would be impossible to follow government guidelines on social distancing.
Thank you for sending this letter, let’s hope it receives a positive response.
I am deeply upset by what’s happened in your beautiful county. My husband and I have visited every year for at least twenty years and every time we arrive it’s like coming home, a very special place for us. We send our best wishes to you all and look forward to returning in September.
After the appalling behaviour seen around Dorset over the weekend our previously low infection rate is sure to rise. Make everyone stay local for all our sakes.
Totally agree with you. Let’s hope your letter bears fruit and you are given more powers to pervent an influx into our County and control the antisocial behaviour. CB
You need to take more positive action to make a clear statement to those visiting. Get the police or army to properly close any tourist spots that get overrun. Stop them on the main roads before they even arrive and turn them round.
Fully support this letter and hope our MPs will stop supinely following party line that the government has a coherent plan and is “following the science”. I have written twice to Chris Loder as my MP and very disappointed with his replies. With respect to the current issue, it is my understanding that someone deliberately driving past a police “road closed” sign will find their insurance is now invalid. In the last few days we have seen an increase in motorbikes using the A352 past our house as a racetrack.
DT2 7AA
An excellent letter the contents of which we agree entirely. Thank you Dorset Council for all you are doing to keep residents safe in such unprecedented times. Living close to Wareham Forest we have seen how all services involved have been put under so much pressure.
Come on Boris you need to act and protect your people it’s not working.
Good for you.
Thank you for helping the dorset residents in this matter with your letter to the P.M of support and safe guarding the county.
This past weekend I’ve witnessed some terrible selfness and reckless behaviour of tourists to our beautiful area which we are lucky to call our home! Its certainly sad, worrying times.
Thank you Spencer Flower for stating what we wholeheartedly feel about easing down the lockdown. As residence of Dorset we completely support you as Leader and your Council in the letter you have sent to the Prime Minister with copying in our local MPs.