Dales bosses urged the public to continue to stay local. Photo: Bob Smith/grough
National park bosses in the Yorkshire Dales are urging the public to be patient and stay local when guidelines change on Monday.
In England, six people or two households to meet outdoors from 29 March.
But the UK Government’s guidance on its ‘road map’ out of lockdown is vague. It says: “The ‘stay at home’ rule will end on 29 March, but many restrictions will remain in place. People should continue to work from home where they can and minimise the number of journeys they make where possible, avoiding travel at the busiest times and routes.”
Formally organised outdoor sports will also be permitted from Monday.
Neil Heseltine, chair of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority said: “From Monday everyone should follow the government guidance to stay local, minimise travel and not to stay overnight.
“We’re already looking forward to 12 April when we can all travel more freely, with local hospitality back open and visitors welcome to come and stay. In the meantime, we’re asking everyone to stay local and to minimise travel to help keep themselves and our local communities safe so we can move out of lockdown in a planned and considered manner.
“We are all too aware of how difficult the past year has been for everyone, but we can see real light at the end of the tunnel. However, we need to show patience and respect for others so we can all enjoy what I hope will be a wonderful summer.
“For the moment the vast majority of local businesses remain closed, including cafes, restaurants, pubs, and many local shops. So, from next week onwards we would ask everyone to:
- Respect the land: exercise within your limitations to keep pressure off local resources, and know the countryside code
- Respect the community: we recognise that many in the local community are among some of the most vulnerable groups of people. While walking, please keep a safe distance from homes, schools, and farms
- Respect each other: stay two metres apart, keep within your family or household groups, and avoid gathering in Dales towns and villages. Finally, be kind and respect one another – whether visitor or local.”
The authority said its ranger service will continue to support North Yorkshire and Cumbria Police across the national park this weekend to help keep everyone safe as national lockdown restrictions remain in place.
FellrunnerH
27 March 2021Stay local you are having a laugh, you have had people stuck walking the same streets and paths in towns/ cities for 5 months. People need to escape to regain some sanity so come the 29th onwards the Lakes and Dales are going to be busier than ever so instead of saying stay away it may be best to give people ideas of different areas to explore so they don’t all come to the “honeypot” areas. You can’t hold back the tide so you may as well be proactive and work with it
Beaumap
27 March 2021Fellrunner makes excellent points above. I am privileged to live in the Dales - but think of those who have been cooped up in urban flats erc. It also grates that NPs, designated for access by all, paid for by us all, take this high handed attitude.
Compleator
27 March 2021Say the National Park bosses who I'd imagine have spent the last year getting out and about all over the National Park.......
Marty
27 March 2021It's that old chestnut again 'many in the community are among some of the most vulnerable groups of people'
They've been trotting that one out since the start of all this
I would have thought most communities have some vulnerable people, especially in towns and cities which have far larger populations and far greater poverty than a village in the Yorkshire Dales.
Colin
27 March 2021Towns and cities are not anticipating numbers of visitors many times their usual population from hundreds of miles around. Personally I will be avoiding the inevitable crowds like the plague.
Archie Benson
28 March 2021That's great to hear Colin, do you watch the BBC by any chance?
Jock
28 March 2021Do I detect a slight attitude problem here? You all know best, you will do what you like and to hell with the government, the scientists, laws, advice, requests, pleading. May I suggest that you take a holiday in North Korea when international travel is reinstated.
Fretters
28 March 2021I think most people HAVE been doing what the scientists etc have told us (not everyone but most of the population) which is why places like The Lakes and Dales have seen such a reduction in visitors. The rules state that from the 29th March the stay at home order is being lifted (though the advice is still to stay local, but it’s advice not law I believe) it’s not about an attitude problems, or ignoring the “pleading” it’s about people who’ve been couped up for months (in my case last august due to the Tier system) desperate to get out, get fresh air in their lungs and escape the tedium and boredom of the last number of months (and being told to “hang in”, “the hills will always be there” etc etc). It’s nothing to do with sticking 2 fingers up to “the man” it’s doing what we are now allowed to do. I just hope everyone visiting these places is respectful and follows the rules sadly I fear there will be a minority who will be disrespectful and tarnish it for us all
Jock
28 March 2021Quite right, and we are now most definitely allowed to stay local and keep journeys to a minimum. Yes, I agree, it's advice, there there to be ignored and I feel confident that it will be.
Summit bloke
28 March 2021Staying local is OK but Yorkshire dales aren't local for you sometimes. People have rules for now, then keep them full to make you sorry about it.
Catharine
28 March 2021In my corner of the Yorkshire Dales the hills are empty; locals over 50 have all been vaccinated. Come and enjoy the space, behave respectfully in towns and villages and take your rubbish home.
Mike
28 March 2021I will be travelling to Yorkshire Dales this week to go walking. It's advice, not law to stay local and I choose to travel to somewhere I love and have missed. Of course I will be careful to minimise contact with people, but I will be outside in big open spaces so risk is absolutely minimal.
Jock
29 March 2021Mike, whilst I agree with your sentiments and sympathise with your desire to be back in the Dales, as I said, advice is there to be ignored.
FellrunnerH
01 April 2021#Jock
So for example the government says you can have an organised game of rugby/football(contact sport) with 30 people no masks or social distancing and that’s safe or even go back to work with a serious health condition now the shielding period is over but the local authorities and police would have you believe it’s still too dangerous for people to visit us in the Dales!
The problem is that the advice/guidance doesn’t add up and depending what side of the fence you are on it could be used either way to have an argument.
Jock
01 April 2021Yes, I agree. It's advice and there to be ignored.
It seems to be a trait to refuse to do what we are asked without criticising at every step because we know better than our advisors. Just because we can does not imply that we should.
Ellie
04 April 2021Jock, yes I think it is a trait or human beings to question, as opposed to blindly agreeing to do everything they are told.