Weekend shutdown of Sunderland's Herrington Country Park car park in response to people flouting social-distancing rules

Council chiefs say the action aims to support the Government’s ‘stay at home’ and social distancing legislation.

It comes after concerns were raised about groups of people gathering in the park and ignoring the two-metre social distancing rules brought in to help save lives and protect the NHS by preventing the spread of Covid-19.

Sunderland City Council’s Executive Director of Neighbourhoods, Fiona Brown, said the weekend car park closures will be in place for the “foreseeable future.”

“The vast majority of our residents are acting responsibly by staying home in line with Government guidance but we have had issues with a number of people flouting the rules and gathering in groups in Herrington Country Park to play football or spend the day there,” she said.

“There’s a very important reason why these stay at home restrictions have been brought in and that is to protect the NHS and save lives.

“Government advice is that while exercise is important, people should stay local and use the open spaces near their home where possible – they shouldn’t be travelling unnecessarily.

“Despite this we are continuing to see people travelling to Herrington Country Park and ignoring the social distancing guidelines which require people to keep at least two metres apart.

“That is why we have taken the decision to close the car park there at weekends only for the foreseeable future.

“I completely understand the desire to get out and about especially when the weather is nice but it’s essential that we all abide by the rules if we are to limit the spread of the virus and save lives.”

The car park gates at Herrington Country Park will be locked at 8pm on Fridays and reopened at 6am on Mondays with the exception of Bank Holiday weekends where they will remain closed on the Bank Holidays straddling the weekend.

However, the country park itself will remain open.

Chief Superintendent Sarah Pitt, of Northumbria Police, added: “I would like to thank the overwhelming majority of people who are adhering to the restrictions which are in place to ultimately help keep us all safe.

“From the outset, we have been clear that we will engage with members of the public to explain the restrictions and encourage people to follow them.

“We resolve issues every single day by talking to people and reasoning with them and we will continue with this approach.

“However, if it becomes the case that people are putting others at risk, where appropriate we will make use of the legislation to stop this from happening.”

Boris Johnson announced the lockdown measures in mid-March, with people asked to stay at home except for a limited number of reasons.

These include to go to work if it cannot be done from home, to buy everyday essentials, to care for a vulnerable relative or attend a medical appointment, or for exercise once a day alone or with people from the same household.

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