General Discussion

Quite a row going on between our great Chief Constable and Anne-Marie MP over driving to take exercise or to walk the dog.

When the lockdown was brought in, I thought 'that's ok, I can drive up on to Haldon, put the car where there's no others, and walk, keeping well away from any other people I might meet.

Silly me. Our ostrich-like CC declared this was 'not in the spirit [whatever that means] of the social distancing measures'.  Seems it's OK to walk down your own street but not out in the country.

A-M doesn't agree, and has said so volubly.  Neither does the National Police Chiefs Council.  But Mr Sawyer insists he's the only one in step.

Anyone here like to give their view ?

My view is he is spot on here in the South West we have the lowest amount of cases in the country if you relax the non essential travel folk will take advantage of it. Folk have to stretch the rules so a trip to Haldon will then be a trip to Dartmoor then further afield, then those outside of the South West will have a excuse to travel to Devon for a walk. In the past few days there has been a noticeable increase in traffic on the 379 and a increase in the amount of people around i think we need stricter rules not to be relaxing them.

I don't see how we can avoid further peaks if we relax rules, I'm happy with the police enforcing as they are.  I don't have a lot of time for Anne Marie Morris criticising them, especially young inexperienced police.  Let's face it in her case with age comes wisdom certainly doesn't apply.

If the rules are not relaxed soon the economy will collapse, and then there won't be much of a country left to go back to.

I agree with the Chief Constable, not in the spirit of staying at home if you get in the car to drive somewhere to get your exercise.

Walk around the block, it might not be so pretty but it's the right thing to do

I get that the powers that be are in a dilemma. What to prioritise - the economy or people's lives?

 But if they prioritise the economy and as a consequence more people contract the virus and are therefore unable to work (and also overload the NHS) won't the economy go down the drain anyway? 

I also hear the call for us all to wear masks if/when we go out. But how can we all do that when presently there aren't enough masks for NHS/care workers let alone the rest of us?               

Yes -I've also seen some 'interesting' interpretations of the 'no households should visit other households' rule where I live. I suspect what is happening is that family members are taking it in turns to look after a very frail and elderly grandparent.

But hey! Maybe such visitors are in front of the curve. Check out today's (Sat) lead story in The Mail.   

I have the same Lynne two cars have arrived and eight people piled out with cans of beer and bags of snacks a party me thinks. But what will happen when one of them gets the virus and there are no ventilators to treat them and they die the rest of the morons will create merry hell because it will be someone elses fault.