Bradford Council has reopened a number of its countryside car parks after the easing of some of the Government’s restrictions around controlling the spread of the coronavirus, and it is urging people to use these spaces responsibly.
The local authority has taken a phased approach and it opened 16 of its car parks on Thursday 14 May to allow members of the same household to visit together to exercise or to enjoy the scenery.
Although the guidance on exercise and visiting outdoor spaces now means that people can drive to beauty spots to exercise or enjoy the scenery, Bradford Council is encouraging people to continue to walk to local parks and green-spaces in preference to driving to ones further away.
This is in line with the Government’s campaign messages which still encourages people to stay at home as much as possible, but now says that they can take part in more outdoor activities.
Whenever people are outside the home they should continue to maintain social distancing by keeping 2m from those they don’t live with and not gathering in groups of more than two except with members their household. If you or anyone in your household has coronavirus symptoms you must stay at home.
The message from the council is that if a car park is closed or if it is full you must drive on. Do not park in passing places, entrances to fields or property or on verges or places where parking is restricted such as double yellow lines. If parks and green-spaces are busy you must try somewhere else or go at a less busy time. Also, people must pick up after their dogs and dispose of litter and PPE responsibly. They should either put it in a bin or take it home with them and dispose of it there.
A Team of Wardens and Youth Workers will be out and about in parks and green-spaces across the district promoting the social distancing guidelines.
The following car parks have reopened:
Whetstone Gate, Keighley
Ilkley – Darwin Gardens and White Wells
Baildon Moor – Top (Dobrudden), Trig Point and Baildon Walkers Car Park
Penistone Hill – Dimples Lane/Moorside Lane/toilets Esholt Village
Northcliffe Park, Shipley
Victoria Park, Oakenshaw
Harden Moor main car park
Shipley Glen
Keighley Tarn
Hirst Wood
The opening of other car parks will be assessed and decided based on the public response to this first phase to ensure the safety and wellbeing of visitors, the local community and staff.
Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “The easing of restrictions now allow people to spend more time outdoors and also allow a greater choice of places to visit and activities to participate in. However, people must continue to follow the Government messages of staying at home as much as possible, and if they go outside, they must keep 2m apart from those not in their household. People must not gather in groups.
“Our parks and green-spaces are open for people to use, but we ask that people use these responsibly and show consideration for others by not parking irresponsibly, keeping their distance and disposing or dog mess and rubbish properly.”
Visit Bradford Council’s website at www.bradford.gov.uk/coronavirus for more information.