Dales bosses urged the public to continue to stay local. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

Dales bosses urged the public to continue to stay local. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

National park bosses in the Yorkshire Dales are urging the public to be patient and stay local when guidelines change on Monday.

In England, six people or two households to meet outdoors from 29 March.

But the UK Government’s guidance on its ‘road map’ out of lockdown is vague. It says: “The ‘stay at home’ rule will end on 29 March, but many restrictions will remain in place. People should continue to work from home where they can and minimise the number of journeys they make where possible, avoiding travel at the busiest times and routes.”

Formally organised outdoor sports will also be permitted from Monday.

Neil Heseltine, chair of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority said: “From Monday everyone should follow the government guidance to stay local, minimise travel and not to stay overnight.

“We’re already looking forward to 12 April when we can all travel more freely, with local hospitality back open and visitors welcome to come and stay. In the meantime, we’re asking everyone to stay local and to minimise travel to help keep themselves and our local communities safe so we can move out of lockdown in a planned and considered manner.

“We are all too aware of how difficult the past year has been for everyone, but we can see real light at the end of the tunnel. However, we need to show patience and respect for others so we can all enjoy what I hope will be a wonderful summer.

“For the moment the vast majority of local businesses remain closed, including cafes, restaurants, pubs, and many local shops. So, from next week onwards we would ask everyone to:

  • Respect the land: exercise within your limitations to keep pressure off local resources, and know the countryside code
  • Respect the community: we recognise that many in the local community are among some of the most vulnerable groups of people. While walking, please keep a safe distance from homes, schools, and farms
  • Respect each other: stay two metres apart, keep within your family or household groups, and avoid gathering in Dales towns and villages. Finally, be kind and respect one another – whether visitor or local.”

The authority said its ranger service will continue to support North Yorkshire and Cumbria Police across the national park this weekend to help keep everyone safe as national lockdown restrictions remain in place.

Some articles the site thinks might be related:

  1. Police issue penalties to eight wild campers in Yorkshire Dales
  2. Campaigners beat lockdown hitches to meet commons bid deadline
  3. How an outdoor retailer survived lockdown: a service centre, a woman’s eye and explainer videos
  4. Yorkshire Dales bosses urge public not to travel to area during lockdown
  5. Rescuers plead with public not to put themselves in harm’s way