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Chronicle Live

National

Kathryn Riddell

Northumberland car parks begin to reopen this week but visitors asked to be 'sensible'

Car parks in Northumberland will start to reopen ready for the weekend as more people venture out for exercise away from home.

Three-quarters of the Northumberland council car parks will reopen to the public after being initially closed to discourage tourists during the strict coronavirus lockdown.

However, the Government announced that from May 13, people would be able to drive somewhere to exercise, as long as they kept a distance from people outside of their household.

Now the decision has been made to start allowing visitors to return to Northumberland, but day trippers are asked to stick to the rules and be "sensible".

Of the 53 car parks currently shut, 41 will reopen by Friday to cater for families who want to spend more time in the Northumberland countryside or by the coast.

While four country parks, Druridge Bay, Bolam Lake, Plessey Woods and Tyne Riverside, reopened earlier this month as lockdown restrictions began to ease, the council said that more work needed to be done across car parks to ensure public safety.

A spokesperson for Northumberland County Council said: "We have considered factors such as the ability to socially distance both within the car park and the surrounding area, the impact on and the views of the local community and where vehicles might otherwise park and cause problems if the car park remained shut."

Signs will be updated at the car parks reminding people that they must maintain social distancing measures at all times, that meeting in groups is not permitted and asking them to maintain good hand hygiene. People are still being urged to stay at home as much as possible and visitors cannot spend the night away from their homes.

Further work is being undertaken to ensure public toilets in some of the car parks meet safety and social distancing standards - so some may not be open by Friday.

For those car parks which remain closed, the public toilets will also be shut and people are advised not to visit these locations..

Hartley Bay near Seaton Sluice (Google maps)

Car parks at particularly popular tourist destinations including Holy Island, Bamburgh and Seahouses remain closed.

Councillor Glen Sanderson, Cabinet Member for Environment and Local Services, said: “We want to reiterate that while lockdown is easing slightly, the pandemic is by no means over.

“It was vital we took a cautious approach, and kept our car parks closed until we fully assessed it is safe to open them.

“Although some are now reopening we would ask people when they do go out to exercise to do so with caution, keep their distance and respect the local communities.

“We know how much our coastline and countryside means to people but we are duty bound to be cautious.

“We’ve taken a very careful and considered approach and this has been a difficult decision but we feel on balance we should open up a number of them to the public.

“We would ask that if people do travel somewhere to exercise, to be respectful and sensible and not block roads where people live.”

Car parks that charge to park will continue to do so. The council say it will keep the car park openings under review and the situation may change depending on local or national developments.

Car parks opening by Friday:

Amble, Island View

Amble, Beacon Hill

Amble, Togston Links

Amble, Links

Amble, Dunes

Amble, Braid

Ashington, Blackclose Dene

Ashington, Hirst Park

Ashington, Wansbeck Riverside Park

Berwick, Pier Field

Berwick, Sandy Beach