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Visitors are being urged not to travel to Camber Sands or other Rother beaches for days out following a change in Government guidance.
With people now allowed to travel for exercise, concerns have been raised that an influx of people to Camber and Bexhill beaches could put the district’s residents and visitors themselves at risk.
As well as high numbers of people flocking to the coast making social distancing impossible, there will be no lifeguard service at Bexhill beach all summer or at Camber Sands until later in the season.
Cllr Doug Oliver, leader of Rother District Council, said: “Our message to anyone thinking of travelling to Camber or Bexhill for a day on the beach is ‘please don’t’.
“We appreciate the rules have changed slightly, and people are desperate for life to return to normal, but large numbers of people on our beaches could risk a second spike in this deadly virus.”
He added: “The disruption of lockdown has also resulted in the RNLI being unable to offer a lifeguard service until later in the season, so anyone going into the water will be doing so at their own risk.
“We continue to work closely with Sussex Police and the coastguard to make our beaches as safe as possible, but we need people to help us by staying away.”
Local people visiting Rother’s beaches, parks or open spaces should only do so in their household groups and, if they are meeting one other person from outside their household, they should maintain a two metre distance at all times.
Cllr Oliver added: “While the guidance has changed, the situation hasn’t. Covid-19 is a killer and we should all be doing everything we can to stem the spread, protect the vulnerable and ease the burden on our NHS.
“We will do everything we can to keep our residents safe, but we need your support to do so. Don’t become complacent. Stay alert and keep your distance. There will be plenty of time to enjoy Rother’s beautiful beaches, parks and open spaces when we know if it safe to do so.”
For more information about the updated guidance visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Published: 14th May 2020
