Lake District tells people to stay away after government gives ok to drive there

Officials in Cumbria have repeated a ‘stay away’ message for the county.

Officials in Cumbria have repeated a ‘stay away’ message for the county, which has one of the highest coronavirus infection rates.

Worried locals fear being inundated by visitors after Prime Minister Boris Johnson eased lockdown travel rules.

Government advice is from Wednesday people can travel around by car to exercise in England.

Cumbria, home to the Lake District National Park, saw 47 million visitors come to the region in 2018, and it is feared the area could be overwhelmed.

Richard Leafe, the Lake District National Park Authority’s chief executive, said in a statement that many people will be keen to visit the Lakes.

But he cited the high infection rates and the fact that many mountain rescue volunteers also work in the NHS as reasons for people ‘not to rush back’ immediately.

Assistant chief constable of Cumbria Police Andrew Slattery added: ‘What we are saying is, please don’t visit the Lake District yet. 

‘The Lake District is not yet ready to receive a large number of visitors, the tourism industry is largely closed down, there are no pubs open, restaurants open, public toilets open.

‘This is not just the police saying this, this is the National Parks Authority, Cumbria Tourism are saying this, “Please stay away.”

‘We have people living in small towns and rural communities who are really afraid.

‘We were expecting small, incremental changes to the lockdown this week. 

‘Unfortunately, one measure he (Boris Johnson) announced will have a significant effect for Cumbria and other similar areas.

‘He talked about the ability to drive out to different areas. That seems innocuous, but if people turn up in large numbers, that will have a real impact on local communities suffering some of the highest infection rates.’

Mr Slattery said his officers will continue to explain and encourage people to play by the rules voluntarily, but if necessary police will be expected to enforce the rules on social distancing.

Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, has written an open letter to the Prime Minister calling for there to be a maximum limit on the number of miles people can drive for exercise to help stop a surge in people travelling to the Lake District from outside the county.

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