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Closing open spaces in lockdown a “last resort”

Fixed Penalty Notices issued in Lincolnshire

Closing open spaces in lockdown a “last resort”

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick, has said that closing parks and open spaces during the UK Covid-19 lockdown should be an “absolute last resort,” and that local councils should be “very judicious” in making such decisions.

This statement comes after Downing Street confirmed that the “overwhelming majority” of the public followed social distancing rules over the weekend. Local authorities have also issued similar statements.

When Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the UK was being placed into a state of lockdown, government restrictions stated that everybody must stay at home where possible, and only leave if they have a “reasonable excuse”, such as to exercise or for essential shopping.

But it has been suggested that some are taking advantage of the one form of outdoor exercise that has been allocated to each person, instead using it to sunbathe, or to socialise in parks.

On Sunday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock made the meaning of ‘essential’ crystal clear, warning sunbathing was against the government’s social distancing rules – as many parts of the UK enjoyed warm sunny weather.

One London council has already closed a park, saying that thousands of people had flouted government regulations over the weekend.

Jenrick added:

“This is [the councils] decision, but I have asked them to be very judicious in taking that step and only to do that where they feel it is impossible to maintain social distancing rules within their parks or open spaces.

I think that is what motivated them over the weekend.”

We want people to be able to go out and have exercise.

It is not to congregate with other people, to have a barbecue or a picnic and to put people’s lives in danger by breaching the social distancing rules.”

Despite the Health Secretary’s warnings that outside exercise could be banned if people continued to ignore regulations, Jenrick has also insisted there were no “imminent plans” to impose tougher social distancing measures.

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