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
Very well said. As soon as the Prime Minister said people can travel any distance my heart sank. We live near Blandford, not far from the coast and even after we were told we could travel further for leisure did not go to the beaches as we feel those are for the local people at this time. I know we have beautiful countryside around but all areas in the UK are beautiful – there’s no need for people to go so far. Thank you for writing to the Government and I dearly hope they take notice and do something about it. Also thank you for the support and continuation of a lot of Council services through this time.
Once again, I am sadly disappointed and horrified at the way people have disregarded the appeals to besensible and have learnt nothing, they selfishly just dumped their rubbish and fouled the area. These people would be the 1st to complain if rubbish etc. was left in their gardens. ?
Great you have written to the Government. Lockdown eased too quickly! We don’t live far from the beaches but haven’t ventured out because of the influx of visitors to our are own area. I thought that being able to go to the beach now was meant for the locals not those who have travelled down from other towns. Just hope it’s not too late to stop visitors from coming here. Thank you for your concern and for writing to the Government. Much appreciate your help here.
Very well done; just hope Boris takes notice – the scenes on Bournemouth beach last weekend were unbelievable.
Lets hope for days of rain!
Ban visitors to Dorset beaches unless they can produce documentary evidence that they are actual residents of Dorset.
So very many of us are angry over this, we have complied with rules and many have been in total lockdown for 10 weeks now, we have kept the infection rate low. Why should all this now be undone by people who don’t give a dam and don’t actually live here.
Thank you for speaking on behalf of our community. We’ve all remain in Lockdown, on Monday my family who have been shielding had to wait until 7pm to take their 3 children to the beach, because of the fear created by those who just didn’t think about us
Thank you for sending this. I was involved in the rescues last weekend – sadly people appear to have heard that there are no restrictions anymore. The effect on our limited local resources of ambulance, police, Coastguard & RNLI was all too evident last Saturday.
It’s not fair on us Local Residents we have obeyed the Rules stayedHome for 10 weeks and now when we could are too Frightened to go and sit on our Sea front because of crowds of people flocking in from all over the Country The Government should not have opened the Flood Gates Stay in your own County and Keep us Safe
The government has lifted the restrictions to early. I can understand that people want to see there family I get that. But since then a31 at a stand still beaches crowded other landmarks as shown on the bbc…. Dorset has the lowest cases but With people travelling down are we at risk of a second spike.
At last, Thank You Mr Flowers for helping to protect our beautiful diverse County.
Those people jumping of Durdle door should face costs for abusing a world heritage site and causing our stretched rescue services to be called out!!
Sadly , our Prime Minister gives too much credit to some people’s common sense.He needs to spell it out and set a specific distance for folk to stay within their own country. Not come down and trash ours!!!! It is the residents of Dorset that will have to pay in the long run and maybe some with their lives if those who visited the County at the weekend were carriers of Covid 19!!
I am, like many, deeply upset by the behaviour of visitors coming to visit Dorset. The debacle of the recent influx of ‘out of county ‘ visitors to beaches in Dorset could be devastating to local people. We now have the highest R rate in the whole country – over 1!! (We had one of the lowest….)
Thank you, Mr Flower, for your comprehensive and clear letter to the P.M. I dearly hope Mr Johnson responds immediately.
Absolute disgust with the way people have visited our beaches from away and have been disrespectful ,leaving not just rubbish, but tampons ,babies nappies, beer bottles, portable bar-b-ques, which incidentally should be banned during this dry weather.
Something has to be done especially after the tragedy at Durdle Door when all our Emergency services were stretched to the limit.
Also the verbal abuse experienced by the wardens for example on Brownsea island last weekend. Once again people landing their boats on there allowing their dogs to run loose,when there are specific notices saying to keep off, birds nesting .
Something has to be done. The people of Dorset are really fed up.
Don’t understand,which feilds
This too early easing is to divert attention from the Cummings affair. Playing with peoples lives for political purposes is what you can expect from Boris.
Strange, the easing came about on 10 May….. Cummings affair came to light about 10 days ago. Don’t think it is anything to do with that.
Better to not see them than to kill them by passing on thevirus …
Thank goodness for local people’s sensible voices and strength of unity.
Hope against hope the Government acts swiftly and positively bringing back wise supportive action, which of recent times has gone deeply awry.
Well done to our Council’s efforts to redress the miserable behaviour caused
by non-caring and thoughtless visitors.
Shame upon their behaviour, and every success to our Council, particularly
Councillor Spencer Flower.
Totally agree with all the above comments. It was really nice having a quieter Dorset. Then the disrespectful idiots arrived. Their actions speak louder than our words. So why not impose a blanket £50 fine to ALL, for leaving our beautiful coastline in such a sorry state. They should take their rubbish home with them.
We pay excessive council tax as it is. You could impose a standard council tax charge across the uk, so we aren’t left to pick up the costs for visitors actions. For instance you could have noted every vehicle number plate associated with visiting places such as Durdle door and charged them. There would be uproar from those that left it clean and tidy, but on there next trip, I hope it would encourage them to speak out to those who leave a mess.
Great idea Caroline, wholy endorse. Obviously Dorset residents would not pay the charge…!
I totally agree, the government has eased restrictions far too early. By easing the way that they have, has flamed the situation. Stay local should be enforced. Otherwise the only ‘R’ number will be ‘AAH’. Certainly without control being seen to be exercised, a second wave of the virus may well return.
Please do not enforce travel restrictions again. We live in Dorset and our grandchildren in Hampshire. If travel is again restricted we won’t be able to see them yet again. We have only just seen them after waiting nearly 3 months.
I agree, I think may dispensation to go to an agreed address to meet family only? Otherwise, like you I would not see my daughters or granddaughter, am only seeing 1 for the first time in weeks this coming weekend
We haven’t seen most of ours as we are still very cautious about contact and they live in the same County. We need to To be selfless and not selfish until we are positive that this is all over
But at least you are all alive.
If they said that I wouldn’t be able to see my Grandchildren !!!!
Dorset council are correct in all they have said in their statement. The lives of the residents are now at risk as visitors do not seem to have any sense regarding safety , hygiene, social distancing .
Surely it is the power of Dorset Council to close all the beaches due to hygiene problems. I’m certain Dorset residents would support this move 100%.
Please consider this , save Dorset residents and Dorset
Every year we welcome visitors from far and wide and perhaps the majority behave normally and respect our beautiful county. This is something different. A kind of madness seems to take hold. “Ooh, the sun is shining! Let’s go somewhere beautiful and wreck it!” will not do. We should be allowed a voice in how we are treated especially when there are even greater forces at play. We are a low infection region and even in national terms it makes no sense whatsoever to jeopardise that situation. If the government is serious in its “control the virus” message then they must surely support our plea for protection.
Thank you for bringing the situation to the attention of the government. It is sad that those of us who live in Dorset are not able to enjoy its benefits after many weeks lockdown due to influx of thousands from other areas.
Do hope they listen and act.
I quite agree and I’m furious that our beautiful coast has been ruined with tons of litter and human waste left behind by irresponsible visitors. The entire lockdown period has probably been wasted now and if Covid numbers increase here after this debacle then this government has failed us. I don’t want to travel 100’s of Miles now we have more freedom and a visit to our own coast a few miles away would be impossible under these conditions so lockdown continues for most of us. Let’s hope the government heed your letter.
As a key worker, I had a very difficult conversation with my 5 year old this morning about her return to school, she had been looking forward to it until she saw all of the people on the beaches and then heard on the radio about the 3 guys at Lulworth Cove and what was needed to rescue them, she asked ” mummy, why are these people allowed to come here and behave like that when CV19 has not been fixed, what if it comes to Dorset now and they find out children can get it? what if I get it at school and then give it to you or daddy, will you die? If they are sure that kids can’t get it then why are all kids not going back to school, if I can go to school, can I go and see my nanny and grandad in Berkshire now?”
So if a 5 year old gets it, why can’t others… please stay away, I don’t want my child having CV-19 anxiety due to other people ignorance. After an hour of talking she has gone to school because she now thinks she is most likely safer there!
Totally agree with the statement
A very good letter but I am afraid that after the Cummings incident Boris will put it in the no action tray and do as Mr C tells him.
Cllr Flower has done a commendable thing but I fear it will cut no ice with the P.M. who is desperate to reinvigorate the economy. Also I’m afraid that having been cooped up for weeks many Britons have lost track of how to behave in public and are ready to throw caution to the winds and arrive in huge ill-behaved crowds to assert their government-given right to enjoy themselves.
I also think that the furlough scheme has allowed certain elements to think they are on one long tax payer funded holiday.
For those of us still working a paying taxes, a nice break at the beach was something to look forward to, but sadly not now, not for Dorset residents. It seems to have been infested with louts, drug abusers and drunks.
Now that they have discovered this beautiful part of the world, my fear is that they will keep coming. What is wrong with some of the people of this country? They seem to have no sense of right or wrong, decency, shame, nothing.
Well said Councillor, I agree entirely with all your comments.
I live in Weymouth, and some of the behavior I have witnessed by members of the public has left me speechless!
Lack of social distancing, litter left on the beach, parking on double yellow lines for hours on end, (outside our property), it beggars belief.
But I’m afraid the letter will unfortunately fall upon deaf ears. And when we get the second wave of the virus who do we blame?
I do believe it was a huge mistake allowing people to travel miles to our beaches and beauty spots, a distance of say 5-10 miles from home would be more sensible.
And as for the situation at Dursley’s Dor recently, those people who recklessly jumped from the top want to thank themselves lucky they did not kill themselves.
Thank you so much for looking after this county. I absolutely agree that it was so dangerous with all those people over the weekend – there is just no thought for others – if we do what is right this will end far quicker – where is the patience that is needed and how thoughtless to drive large distances to spread the disease which will happen if we slacken the distancing now.
The situation on the beach between Jazz Café and Haven House Hotel is far from ideal, but even as it is, it needs managing. To open the car-parks and not the toilets was a huge mistake. People need to urinate and defecate, even the locals. Litter is always inexcusable, but fortunately we benefit from a number of walkers and dog-walkers who routinely pick up litter first thing in the morning. It’s up to the police to stop people overnighting in vehicles. Also, it’s pretty obvious when there are barbecues and fires. You have to wonder where the police are patrolling at relevant times. Manage the behaviour rather than the traffic, but if vehicles are illegally parked, fine the owners or use clamps.
Thoroughly agree with Cllr Flowers.
But the beaches should have been closed when it was evident that the crowds were forming after their release it was always on the cards that selfish people would rise up and abuse the easing of lockdown.
We have been in isolation for some 12 wks and luckily in our garden, but even here we have witnessed Grandparents visiting Grandchildren in there gardens having entered through the house.
If Granny really cared about them they would have stayed away.
And as for the second wave of Covid 19 IT’S NOT IF BUT WHEN
Local Authorities are responsible for the health and well-being of their residents and are required to collaborate with others to secure such health and well-being. It has been good to see such duties being discharged during the pandemic and hopefully will also be seen soon in trying to make the Dorset CCG proposals workable (The Dorset CCG proposals have been endorsed by government as suitable for progression – not necessarily in the manner currently proposed, if the responsibilities of both Local Authorities are properly recognized). How galling for a Local Authority Leader to have to write to remind government that “collaboration” is essential for efficiency. “Management by surprise” does not help ! The nature of our current government should not be forgotten and it is good to see some seeking to improve the matter.
I wrote to Cllr Flower on 20th May asking him to take urgent action after seeing Durley Chine Beach packed with people & cyclists on the prom . The crowds were bound to flock to Dorset with the lovely hot weather. He palmed me off telling me to write to someone else in another Council for Bournemouth! It has taken 12 days for him to get to grips and write this letter to Government. As Head of Council, it is difficult to understand why they did not act sooner? They have the power to change things, but there seems to be very little Duty of Care towards the local residents of Dorset here. Valuable time lost, disappointing & upsetting.
Durley Chine is in the BCP Council area. Dorset Council and BCP Council really do have very few power to act on what we saw at the weekend because of the Government’s message that people can travel any distance to sit on a beach. Dorset residents have been our number one priority throughout this which is why Cllr Flower has written to the Prime Minister to ask him to reconsider central Gov’t advice.
We are an elderly couple who live 25 mins from the sea but have stayed within our local area. Could the government not restrict the miles travelled so that this weekends incidents do not reoccure. I suggest a 50 mile radius around their home. This would mean that we would still not be able to meet up with our children and grandchildren. We have been shielding at home for the last 9 weeks and the influx of visitor makes us nervous to even visit our local shop, as these thoughtless visitors may have been there before us.
Keep voting Tory.
I really don’t know why people are so surprised by all this. We have a government led by a clown and this was the reaction to divert attention from the Cummings fiasco. Flower is right to express his concern but it will fall on deaf ears.
Well said Councillor Flower and the leader of BCP, a 10 mile travel limit should be set. Dominic Cumming and his spokesman the Prime Minister have no idea or desire to maintain the safety of all of us and overcome the pandemic, they just want to be liked. Not only should Cumming resign but Boris should also step aside and allow somebody more competent lead us through this pandemic and what follows.
Exactly the point I have tried to convey when suggesting the local authorities actually show some authority in the way they handle these situations. For example, it took several days of massive traffic problems at the entrance to the millhams lane tip before anyone thought to put a control on the main road entrance. Why does everyone think the government is responsible for all these things. It’s local authorities, and if they don’t have enough power (unlikely) then seek it.
Good letter to the PM but wake up Dorset County Council and the Police as at the end of the day you could have got to grips with the situation on the day but failed to appreciate the obvious situation that was going to occur.
We did as much as we could within the Government’s guidelines and the enforcement powers and resources we have.
We totally agree with Cllr Flower’s comments. The RH Boris Johnson should have thought through his decision more carefully and limited travel then maybe this mayhem might not have occurred. What with the overcrowding and the forest fires it is very worry for the rescue services.
Thank you for writing to our PM.
Surely there are actions the council can take without involving other bodies? Get the legal team onto it. Close car parks again. Revoke or suspend licences the Lulworth Estate or other offenders need to operate. Not exactly rocket science!
We have no authority to close the beaches or car park because they’re privately owned by the Estate and because of that fact, we don’t licence the car park. We did as much as we could on Sunday within Gov’t guidelines and with the powers and resources we have.
Thank you for your response. If in fact the council and police had any awareness of the possible situation that was bound to occur, based on the events of recent weekends, then surely you would have approached the Estate about your concerns.
The present circumstances requires the attention of people in the Council and Police who are capable of thinking “ outside the box” then you might have had the appropriate resources to hand.
Extraordinarily times requires extraordinarily thought and effort.
Sorry but you have let Dorset down big time
Mike Wheadon It was noted on News reports, newspapers and social media that both the car parks and Durdle Door (Lulworth) were both closed. The ‘selfish visitors’ continued to chose to ignore all the signs and carry on. In those circumstances at that time, this was dealt with as appropriately as possible as previously said.
Yes, perhaps the PM should have made distance limited but relying on common sense was obviously a mistake. We can but hope this can be rectified. Write (email them) to your local MP or direct to PM .
People not only just in the councils and emergency service have used members of staff to assist where they are needed or are not isolating themselves but are still working remotely.
The ‘visitors’ are the ones to have let the whole of Dorset down, NOT our unitary councils’ Dorset Council and BCP Council who have and are doing the best they can during this extraordinary crisis.
I think it’s great that you wrote a letter to Boris Johnson – Thank you. Unfortunately, humans behaving the way they do, this kind of behaviour will get worse lockdown or no lockdown. The amount of litter and filth left behind by visitors and yes Dorset residents too is indicative of the way people treat the environment now. Unless the Government/DC is willing to introduce measures to combat this, such as CCTV, and/or wardens to patrol these areas, nothing will change. They could be volunteers, local people looking after their environment who are able to report to an authority who in turn will issue a summons, or on the spot fines. If this doesn’t happen, then the situation will never change, and we will all continue to gasp in horror on social media, which accomplishes nothing.
As a resident in Dorset. I fully support the comments of the chairman of the County Council. Once again all priorities are centered around London . Roads, rail links, finance are all London priorities over the rest of the Country. Now the ‘outsiders’ , us in Dorset are left to pick up the pieces of neglect and carry the burden of ill thought out procedures and a threat to the health of our residents in this county.
Thank you to the Dorset response.
My wife and I are both 69 and have been following the project fear guidelines and have excercised localy regularly throughout this pandemic. We have walked along the prom from Flaghead to Bournemouth pier at least once a week, since travel restrictions lifted and although it has got increasingly busy we have not encountered any problems with social distancing. The atmosphere has been pleasant with everyone seeming polite and respectful. Yesterday the only problem we found was lack of toilets. Surely temporary facilities could be installed at Branksome while work continues on the existing ones. The state of the open facilities was disgusting obviously due to lack of cleaning – new council policy ? Ironically the only obvious lapse of social distancing we saw were two BCP workers walking right next to each other chatting. The health benefits of sunshine (UV) and fresh air far outweigh risks.
Hi John – although the area you are talking about falls into BCP council’s I know they are in the same situation as us. Public toilets were never meant to be the only available conveniences. They are supposed to complement those on offer from pubs, restaurants and cafes – but of course these aren’t available currently. All councils have opened most if not all toilets under their supervision.
Thank you Cllr Flower for standing up for all of us who live in Dorset. It has been very upsetting to hear about, and to witness, the influx of people from outside the area especially over this last weekend. It is such a shame that these visitors behaved so appallingly. I am sure we all agree that, WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT, we will welcome visitors back with open arms. I do hope the Prime Minister takes your letter very seriously and acts accordingly.
Unbelievably vile behaviour from so many people travelling long distances to ruin our beaches and countryside.
Yet heard yesterday from one friend that ‘London was empty’ And from another that ‘a picnic in Windsor Park was peaceful and safe with few people around’
Please put a limit on the distance people can travel, but a sensible one, 30 miles perhaps.
Well done Cllr Flowers, we are totally shocked and dismayed to see such terrible behavior from a selfish mindless section of the public. Do they not get what is going on or do they think now is the time to do just has they like with no thought for others . we have been shielding for 12 weeks now like many others,and have missed family birthdays of our beloved grandchildren and children,and will continue to do so because its the right thing to do ..please continue to press for these changes and keep Dorset has safe as we can .Julie and Steve Boddington
I lived in Dorset as a child, at a time when beauty spots such as Durdle Door were familiar to locals, but unknown to most outsiders. I have seen the Dorset newspaper article and read Cllr Flower’s statement and all the follow-up comments and you all have my sympathy over the way so many visitors are ruining the lovely Jurassic Coast by resorting to behaviour one would hesitate to attribute to animals without doing them a disservice. I now live in the Stour Valley in East Anglia, a designated AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) in the small riverside village of Dedham and we are experiencing similar examples of horrendous behaviour (including tombstoning from bridges into the mill pond and river, abandoning of mounds of rubbish, ignoring social distancing etc from the hordes of visitors now coming here, filling the car park and the riverside meadows with picnics, barbecues, noisy radios etc. There seems to be little or nothing we can do to prevent it, when the police and local council are unable to control things. It would need a helecopter, no fire-engine or ambulance could access the riverside if needed. Meanwhile village residents have been forced to abandon any hopes of enjoying the facilities ourselves. Our village is being utterly spoilt. Like one of your other contributors I pray for rain to put an end to the madness, at least temporarily, until it’s safe enough for all children to return to school and people who still have jobs can start work again.
So, now we have the proof. This is the latest information from the Government as of today: ……separate data shows crucial R rate is ABOVE 1 in the North West and South West….
That says it all I think.
I agree with all these comments.
Today we find out that the R number is now higher in our area, although we have had less cases.
Hopefully they will not rise, but as a Dorset resident ,I support the Council and hope they will succeed in restricting the numbers of visitors to our beautiful county.
I am classed as vulnerable, together with many of my friends, we would all like to visit the beach etc, but have more sense
Agree with most of the sentiments but it is worth noting that probably 50 % or more of day trippers have travelled less than 40 miles. Meaning that a large number on Durdle Door beach were probably Dorset residents.
Thank you for speaking on behalf of our community. But it’s the first time, so we too evident, but we need to change fast our behavior