A West Yorkshire council has deployed extra security staff to patrol large parks in a bid to tackle overcrowding and to reduce the transmission of coronavirus.
Wakefield Council has said council staff will turn away residents and ask them to go elsewhere if a park is at full capacity.
The council is concerned that many of its country parks have been overcrowded with people using them for exercise in lockdown, thus increasing the Covid-19 transmission risk and causing issues around parking and access for residents living nearby.
The council has issued a reminder to residents that they must stay within their village, town or the part of the city where they live. This means they should not travel by car or public transport from one area of the district to another to exercise.
Cllr Jack Hemingway, Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for climate change and green spaces said: “We have arranged for council staff to work at our main country parks to make sure that they do not become over busy. In recent months, many residents have been travelling to the parks to exercise. Visiting busy spaces can seriously increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission, so we must take the necessary steps to minimise this.
“Residents must stay local to where they live. There are many fantastic walking routes across the district, which will not require residents to travel to them by car. Let us work together to stay safe and protect one another during this national lockdown.”
Residents can take a look at walking routes close to them, by visiting the council's website.
