Patrols will take place aroundThirlmere and Bassenthwaite Lake. Photo: Bob Smith/grough
Police in the Lake District have been carrying out patrols where visitors are suspected of camping.
Under current government rules, overnight stays away from home are not permitted, though day visits to the national park are.
The restrictions also apply to people in camper vans and motorhomes.
Cumbria Constabulary said its officers and staff from the national park authority have also had to deal with large amounts of litter left at beauty spots.
Police have issued fines to those found camping in contravention of Covid-19 lockdown laws.
Among the areas to be subject to checks will be locations such as around Bassenthwaite Lake and Thirlmere. On Wednesday officers today carried out patrols through areas including the Honister Pass, Buttermere, Whinlatter, Dodd Wood and Newlands Pass.
Inspector Rachel Gale said: “Over the weekend, numerous fixed penalty notices were given out to people camping overnight.
“This included five notices to people camping at Thirlmere.
“As well as issuing fixed penalty notices, our officers have also helped with the clean-ups needed after some visitors have left.
“In recent days at Thirlmere they were confronted with waste including plastic and glass, empty cider cans, rotten food, cardboard boxes, the remains of barbecues and even toilet waste.
“We want the message to be clear: we are checking and we are issuing fines to those who choose to visit here and stay overnight away from their home, including camping or staying in their vehicles overnight.”
One man from Cheshire and five people from Birmingham were spotted breaching guidelines and will have to pay fines.
Richard Leafe, chief executive of the Lake District National Park Authority, said: “We remind all our visitors that the Lake District is there to be enjoyed during the day.
“But we ask that you return home each evening.
“Our team are working hard with Cumbria police to reinforce the message that overnight stays are not allowed.
“Please help us to look after this special place and make sure your visit leaves no trace.”
Insp Gale added: “The Lake District is a beautiful place and we understand perfectly why people want to visit.
“To those visiting I’d add: social distancing must be observed at all times, vehicles must be parked legally and considerately and visitors must take their rubbish away to be disposed of safely and responsibly.
“Roads blocked by parked cars and piles of discarded bottles and barbecues on the lakeshores are not acceptable.”
Fred Scuttle
11 June 2020Idiots leaving a mess are not acceptable at any time but please end this charade....... Biggest over reaction of modern times......... People need the fells and the local businesses and economy need visitors.
BOB
11 June 2020Biggest over reaction??
""waste including plastic and glass, empty cider cans, rotten food, cardboard boxes, the remains of barbecues and even toilet waste.""
So fire risk from barbecues, broken glass bottles, plastic everywhere and even toilet waste... But hey the economy is more important!?
These sort of people should scuttle back to where they came from!
BOB
11 June 2020Over reaction??
"" waste including plastic and glass, empty cider cans, rotten food, cardboard boxes, the remains of barbecues and even toilet waste.""
So fire risk from barbecues, broken glass bottles, plastic everywhere and even toilet waste, but hey the economy is more important!?
Doddy
11 June 2020As can be seen people cannot be trusted to act responsibly, hence the need for regulation.
Local people do not want the virus, nor does anyone else for that matter
Sheepy
11 June 2020Nobody wants visitors who ruin the place for everyone else. The littering has been an absolute disgrace.
This is a National Park, you would expect if anywhere could at least be shown some respect for the environment and its beauty it would be here.
I spent a month travelling all round New Zealand in February and the respect shown to their surroundings by the "Kiwis" is outstanding. No litter anywhere. There aren't even that many bins. Everyone knows to respect their environment and leave nothing behind.
If people are too stupid and have that little respect then I say more power to the Police's elbow. Fine them and fine them big!!!
Fred Scuttle
11 June 2020Agree about the rubbish and mess, that was my first point. Regarding the covid situation, if you believe the stats visitors have more chances of catching it in Cumbria than bringing it in. Like what you did with the clever word play Bob, it's inspirational and must have taken a while to come up with that.
Ian (lives in Lorton)
11 June 2020If people aren't allowed to stay overnight camping, the police need to find them, fine them and move them on the evening before.
A friend of mine is a policeman and he's been out first thing in the morning patrolling some of the areas in the Lakes. As I said to him, "what's the point in letting them do what they're not supposed to do and then moving them on, they need to be sent on their way the night before rather than letting them stay and then in effect charge them £100 for a night in the Lake District".
I'm not allowed to travel to the Peak District to stay overnight but if I were of the same mind set as some folk, I'd go there to camp knowing the worst that could happen is I 'might' have to pay £100 for the trip. Worth the risk? Well yes, because there's no deterrent at all.
Muddled logic
11 June 2020The world is not black and white and neither is a pandemic.
Spending a night in a tent away from anyone else is not dangerous behaviour.
Littering is abhorrent regardless.
Fred Scuttle
12 June 2020Argument aside, and I understand views are subjective so don't expect to convert someone to my opinion, I've saved a lot of money by not being able to spend it in the Lakes. In fact my finances are looking better than they have for years. No fuel costs, no holiday cottages, no eating out in great Cumbrian restaurants and pubs. No shopping in the Keswick Booth's or Coop. The list goes on. Hope the businesses can say the same about their balance sheet. I live in Lancashire just over the border with Cumbria and don't want to see the Lakes collapse. Does that make any sense and does it it make me a nasty outsider? At the end of all this feelings resonate and visitors will remember how we were reffered to during these strange times....
Michael Graham
13 June 2020Agree with Fred and as for visitors bringing the virus into Cumbria, Cumbria has been doing pretty well on that score on its own. Miserable GOMLanders
Alan
16 June 2020Staying overnight in a motorhome or tent is not going to spread covid 19 in any way shape or form. We're being controlled and manipulated. Punish the individual seeking beauty while kneeling before the thousands breeching restrictions to teardown statues. Littering is disgusting but actually has nothing to do with lock down and is only brought up here to promote outrage towards lock down rule breaking.
NorthNurse
17 June 2020Well said Alan. Totally agree.
I enjoy night navigation/ hiking and night photography. By the letter of the law, I assume it’s ok for me to exercise my rights to exercise thoughout the night, so long as I return to my car and rest during the day? Certainly less likely to meet people or cross infect.