Out for exercise? Please stay safe and stay local

January 22, 2021

The council and (Don’t) Visit Southend are reminding visitors that all seafront parking (car parks and bays) remains closed and have urged them to stay away at this time, and to stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.

Although the weather is set to be very cold this weekend, the sun is due to shine, and the council is reminding potential visitors to the Borough that we are still in national lockdown and people should be staying home and only leaving home for a permitted reason. One of those reasons is exercise, but the council is urging people to stay local and not travel long distances to visit areas such as the seafront. The Cinder Path between old Leigh and Chalkwell also remains closed for now.

Cllr Martin Terry, cabinet member for community safety, says: “The Government guidance is clear. People should not be leaving their homes unless absolutely essential and if they do leave home for a permitted reason such as exercise, they should always stay local – the government says this means staying in the village, town, or part of the city where you live.

“I would also remind residents that they should not be travelling long distances for their exercise. We have lots of parks and open spaces across the whole Borough, so at the current time there should be no need to drive to visit the seafront or a park, and for now, please stay local and enjoy the areas close to you for exercise.”

Cllr Kevin Robinson, cabinet member for business, culture and tourism, says: “We know the impact both the national and these local restrictions are having on everyone, but we must continue to adhere to the rules, because we know the virus is still in our community and this new variant is more transmissible. We will be through this soon, and we will once again be able to welcome visitors back to our seafront, and other areas with open arms. But until then, please Don’t Visit Southend - stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.”

Cllr Ron Woodley, cabinet member for transport, inward and capital investment, said: “We took the decision to close all seafront car parks from New Year’s Eve because we were seeing large numbers of people congregating across the entirety of the seafront, including visitors from outside of the Borough. We therefore needed to take this difficult but right decision to deter this behaviour as best we could.

“Anyone that is parked in contravention of any restrictions will receive a parking ticket from our civil enforcement officers. I understand resident concerns regarding an increase in cars parked on residential streets, but would emphasise that the car park closures are only temporary, and we will reopen car parks once it is safe to do so. We must all work together to reduce the spread of the virus as it is still very much with us, and whilst the vaccination roll out continues at pace across the country.”

The Council’s community safety officers, contractors and parking enforcement officers from APCOA will be working hard to keep people safe and well across the Borough and enforce the seafront parking suspension. Officers are continuing to visit supermarkets/smaller food shops/newsagents across the Borough too, to provide COVID support and advice to these stores.