This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52686519

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Coronavirus: Public urged to avoid England's beauty spots Coronavirus: Public urged to avoid England's beauty spots
(about 4 hours later)
The public is being urged to "think twice" before heading to England's beaches and country parks this weekend, despite the easing of lockdown rules.The public is being urged to "think twice" before heading to England's beaches and country parks this weekend, despite the easing of lockdown rules.
Councils in beauty spots fear a surge in visitors could result in a rise in coronavirus infections.Councils in beauty spots fear a surge in visitors could result in a rise in coronavirus infections.
In London, police have warned against taking part in "spontaneous or planned mass gatherings". The Peak District National Park said the Langsett area of its park was "extremely busy" on Saturday and warned people not to go there.
There is no longer a limit on the amount of exercise allowed - or how far people can travel for it - in England. There is no longer a limit on how far people can travel in England.
This weekend will be the first since the rules changed so that people can spend more time outdoors "for leisure purposes", including sunbathing. This is the first weekend since the rules were relaxed, allowing people to spend as much time outdoors as they want "for leisure purposes", including sunbathing.
People can now "drive to other destinations" and meet one person outside their household outdoors.
But people in England should not travel to Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, where the public is still being told to avoid any travel which is not essential.But people in England should not travel to Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, where the public is still being told to avoid any travel which is not essential.
Park bosses in the Peak District tweeted that social distancing was "difficult" in the Langsett area at the north-eastern edge of the park, where car parks were full.
"Please don't travel to the area or park outside of designated bays," they added in a tweet.
In London, police have warned against taking part in "spontaneous or planned mass gatherings".
The Metropolitan Police Service stressed that "games of football... outdoor concerts or parties, protest, marches or assemblies are still not permitted".
Police have been stopping cars on the A23 between the capital and Brighton, where the local council is asking people to "stay away" from its seafront.
Tony Watson, Head of Communications for the Lake District National Park, tweeted that the park was "generally quite quiet", and thanked those who had "decided to stay local".
It comes after the national park's chief executive asked people not to travel "because of the impact you will have on the local communities".
An estimated 15 million leisure trips will be made by car in the UK this weekend, an RAC survey suggests.An estimated 15 million leisure trips will be made by car in the UK this weekend, an RAC survey suggests.
However, almost half of the journeys will be no more than 10 miles long, according to the motoring organisation's poll of 1,317 drivers.However, almost half of the journeys will be no more than 10 miles long, according to the motoring organisation's poll of 1,317 drivers.
With sunny weather forecast in parts of the country this weekend, the County Councils Network is urging people to stay local. With sunny weather forecast in parts of the country, the County Councils Network has urged people to stay local.
The network, which represents 36 county authorities, warns that "day-trippers" who travel from towns and cities to exercise are likely to face long queues of traffic and difficulties parking. The network, which represents 36 county authorities, warned that "day-trippers" who travel from towns and cities to exercise were likely to face long queues of traffic and difficulties parking.
And it cautions that country parks that reopened after lockdown rules were eased on Wednesday may be forced to close again if social distancing becomes impossible. And it cautioned that country parks that reopened after lockdown rules were eased on Wednesday may be forced to close again if social distancing becomes impossible.
Julian German, the network's rural spokesperson and leader of Cornwall Council, said England's coastal and rural areas "will be there when this is over".Julian German, the network's rural spokesperson and leader of Cornwall Council, said England's coastal and rural areas "will be there when this is over".
"We are asking households to bear with us and please do their bit over the coming weeks by exercising locally," he said."We are asking households to bear with us and please do their bit over the coming weeks by exercising locally," he said.
"While councils will be allowing cars access to country parks, it does not change the unique situation of the need to maintain social distancing.""While councils will be allowing cars access to country parks, it does not change the unique situation of the need to maintain social distancing."
He added that the councils wanted to prevent a repeat of the "unprecedented numbers of visitors" to parks and coastal areas over the weekend before lockdown was introduced in March.He added that the councils wanted to prevent a repeat of the "unprecedented numbers of visitors" to parks and coastal areas over the weekend before lockdown was introduced in March.
Peter Williamson, chair of Norfolk and Suffolk Tourist Attractions Association, urged people not to visit the area, stressing that attractions, car parks and other facilities would be closed. The majority of beaches will not have lifeguards after the RNLI suspended lifeguard provision during lockdown - it usually patrol 240 beaches.
Peter Williamson, chair of Norfolk and Suffolk Tourist Attractions Association, also urged people to stay away, stressing that attractions, car parks and other facilities would be closed.
"What we're trying to say to people is we're not open, please don't come because there is nothing for you here at this moment in time," he told BBC Radio 5 Live."What we're trying to say to people is we're not open, please don't come because there is nothing for you here at this moment in time," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
The chief executive of the Lake District National Park has also asked people not to travel "because of the impact you will have on the local communities".
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police Service stressed that "games of football... outdoor concerts or parties, protest, marches or assemblies are still not permitted".
Officers "will engage and encourage people to comply" with public health regulations, the force added.
The Chief Constable of North Wales Police, Carl Foulkes, stressed the rules were different in Wales - where people should only be exercising from their home address - to those in England.The Chief Constable of North Wales Police, Carl Foulkes, stressed the rules were different in Wales - where people should only be exercising from their home address - to those in England.
He told BBC Breakfast officers would be carrying out high visibility controls in key hotspots such as national parks and beaches, as well as road checks to ensure people were complying with the regulations.He told BBC Breakfast officers would be carrying out high visibility controls in key hotspots such as national parks and beaches, as well as road checks to ensure people were complying with the regulations.
Mr Foulkes said vehicles breaking the rules would be told to turn around, with officers using enforcement if necessary.Mr Foulkes said vehicles breaking the rules would be told to turn around, with officers using enforcement if necessary.
The warnings come as government scientific advisers say the infection rate in the UK has gone up - and is close to the point where the virus starts spreading rapidly.The warnings come as government scientific advisers say the infection rate in the UK has gone up - and is close to the point where the virus starts spreading rapidly.
The R-number - which represents the average number of people each infected person passes the virus on to - had been sitting between 0.5 and 0.9, but is now between 0.7 and 1.0.The R-number - which represents the average number of people each infected person passes the virus on to - had been sitting between 0.5 and 0.9, but is now between 0.7 and 1.0.
It needs to be kept below one in order to stay in control.It needs to be kept below one in order to stay in control.
Meanwhile, modelling published by the University of Cambridge and backed by Public Health England, suggests that while London has made the most progress with suppressing the virus, it is proving more stubborn in other parts of England.Meanwhile, modelling published by the University of Cambridge and backed by Public Health England, suggests that while London has made the most progress with suppressing the virus, it is proving more stubborn in other parts of England.
The figures do not perfectly match those from the Sage group of government scientific advisers because it assesses multiple models to reach its conclusions.The figures do not perfectly match those from the Sage group of government scientific advisers because it assesses multiple models to reach its conclusions.