Lockdown easing in England

[LizzieL]

Was the government right to ease lockdown so much a couple of weeks ago? Was it too much too soon? The three part message was no longer "Save the NHS", that was over, we'd all done that - or most of us had. Now it was time to over  stretch the other emergency services

The new message: Drive as far as you like for as long as you like - but don't stay overnight or cross the border into Wales or Scotland.

Inevitably it started a stampede of "holiday makers" to the beaches and "beauty spots", which wer crowded, littered, reportedly urinated on etc. Roads were crammed with traffic, car parks (if open) were full and overflowing. And a lot of this on the first warm weekday after the announcement. But the schools were off, many adults were "working from home", so obviously the ideal opportunity for a staycation. And many did, judging from photos and police reports of having to rouse sleeping "happy campers" in tents and campervans early in the morning.

The RNLI put out a warning about large waves, rip tides etc off the south west coast for the recent bank holiday. And said their lifeguard coverage was lower than usual.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-52690132

Now the RNLI (often referred to as our 4th emergency service) is getting criticised after 2 deaths off the Cornish coast.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-52805583

A fire which has been burning from several days in Wareham forest in Dorset was probably caused by a barbecue as several disposal barbecues were found by fire-fighters on the site.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-52799505

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/18471098.wareham-forest-fire-helicopter-dorset-deal-fire/

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/18474363.wareham-forest-fire-evacuated-family-call-disposable-barbecues-not-used/

This has taken several fire crews from adjoining counties since 18th May and has destroyed a huge area of wildlife habitat.
There's another "beauty spot" gone for a few decades. 

[groom]

Certainly too much, too soon. To see and hear people now, I think at least half of the population think it is over and everything is back to normal.

I was horrified to read on a FB group "It's over, let's get back to normal. Some won, some lost, life goes on." I had to point out that for probably 50, 000 people and their families in the UK alone, life doesn't go on!

[JenB]

The RNLI has come in for a lot of criticism, rather unjustly in my opinion.
People have been going into the sea in places where are clear warnings out for them not to do so.

[LizzieL]

And before the latest easing two people from Slough had to be rescued from Old Harry rocks in Dorset. The third member of their party swam to Studland to raise the alarm - no mean feat in itself.
The rescue needed Lifeboats, a helicopter, ambulance and police.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-52588352

[jillruss]

The capacity for some human beings to kid themselves that bad things happen to other people, not to them constantly amazes me.

[Gadget]

I might drive to the coast and look at the sea and IF it's not crowded, I'll take a walk  by the sea. I've really missed my coastal strolls.

(I might even go to Barnard Castle -

1 h 8 min (58.0 mi) via A1(M)

 but it  has probably become a Mecca by now)

[JenB]

(I might even go to Barnard Castle but it  has probably become a Mecca by now)

A young relative who lives there reports many camera crews wandering around 

[jillruss]

(I might even go to Barnard Castle but it  has probably become a Mecca by now)

A young relative who lives there reports many camera crews wandering around 

Perhaps they were sheep...

[Gadget]

I don't understand why - the bird has flown