Thousands on the beach yesterday - Wednesday

We have to remember the "beige cardis" kept well away from Bournemouth beach yesterday, as did many a resident. The town takes on a different image when people from Birmingham, Milton Keynes and Hertford turn up for the day. (Nothing against those places, they were the ones the visitors themselves mentioned).

There are also hundreds of thousands of people, including self-employed, who have received absolutely nothing in government hand outs. Rather than getting angry at people who seem to be getting something for nothing, how about thinking about the people who are getting nothing?

That's a non sequitur, getting annoyed about the half million people travelling hundreds of miles to converge on one resort has nothing to do with feeling for those who cannot do that because they have nothing.

Maybe, but I get a little p**ed off at reading people complaining about people sitting at home spending other people's taxes. It always seems to me that people are looking over the shoulders, seeing people getting something they're not and saying "Not fair".

PS. I don't think the beaches should even have been opened. My issue is with those who think these are all furloughed people who could go back to work.

I think that if people can travel miles to resorts, not self-distance, as they were not doing walking along even if they did so on the beach, what are the reasons for not going back to work?

Either the Government stops all this jolly holidaying or they just let firms open up before they go out of business.

Yes, I am very having gone no bloody where since about the 16th March.

They are "following their instincts" and "testing their eyesight" on the beach.

Callistemon How do you actually know that all those people were furloughed? Unless you did a survey, they could have been students, shift workers on a break, retired, others who are normally economically inactive, self-employed.

I haven't a clue who they were and I doubt anybody else does either.

Even if they were furloughed, it doesn't mean that because they chose to behave like pillocks, that everybody who is furloughed is a pillock.

There are people currently shielded or who weren't shielded but are at high risk of being badly affected who are having pressure put on them to return to work.

I can understand how tempting it must have been over the last few days to take children to the beach but don't people think that many people will want to do that, and then far too many converge in one place.

Surely when they see the amount of tailbacks it would alert you to the fact that the beach is crowded and sensible to turn back.

This got out of hand and may cause beaches to be closed if there is a rise in Covid.

I see a teacher has been suspended for saying ( on the radio) that 'some' teachers have just been sitting at home doing nothing and not pulling their weight.

My hairdresser would love to come off furlough and go back to work - it’s not her fault she can’t . And her pay is 80% of her basic which in normal times is topped up by commission and tips. That’s true for others as well I’m sure. My dd and sil have worked throughout - they consider themselves lucky to not have to worry about being unemployed.
Another point about the job retention scheme was that paying people stimulated demand which is good for the economy- just wait until the unemployment figures shoot up and demand falls. And btw furloughed workers are paying tax and NI on their furlough pay.

If we wait to close the beaches until we have a spike, it will be too late - does that ring any bells, being late?

Oh dear. Well, they may have been speaking from personal experience of course. Most who I know of have been pulling their weight but it must be irksome to know of colleagues who may not be.
Of course, they are not furloughed anyway.

growstuff I think you're playing Devil's Advocate.
On a normal sunny day in June when people are at work and children in school, there are not usually half a million people heading to Bournemouth and causing a major incident.

It’s obvious that if it’s safe to congregate on beaches, safe to demonstrate and riot, safe to hold street parties, and safe to celebrate in throngs after football matches, then it’s clearly safe to get back to work. The economy will be in terrible trouble at the end of all this. Yes, the furlough scheme was the right thing to do at the right time. And now is the right time to end it.

I think Boris was wrong to allow people to drive as far as they want.

The result is clear at Bournemouth and other beaches. People have come from miles away possibly bringing the virus with them.

Although it has been hard in Wales not being able to drive more than 5 miles I can see the sense in that decision.

Actually not because the risk has gone, although at the moment it has receded, but because people are causing an increased of spikes by their behaviour.

Agree AGAA4

suxiewoozie of course they want to get back to work - well, most of them do, I'm sure, although I do know of instances where they were disappointed not to be furloughed! but they must be exceptions.

But keeping people locked down, unable to work, for good reason and then not controlling the situation in any meaningful way when lockdown is eased is a recipe for disaster and a new spike in cases.

It's a balance between public health and safety and the economy and perhaps the government relied too much on people's common sense and consciences.
This has divided the population into those who care and those who do not.

People behaved in a perfectly common sense way until Dominic Cummings and Boris Johnson showed us that following the guidelines was just for the little people.

Maddy. I agree. People should be going back to work. All my family have worked throughout the lockdown. Some from home but there are several who are doctors and nurses and have been very busy.

I know not everyone has been able to go out to work but judging by the amount of people on beaches, at raves etc then it seems time to restore some order and get people back to work.

maddyone

It’s obvious that if it’s safe to congregate on beaches, safe to demonstrate and riot, safe to hold street parties, and safe to celebrate in throngs after football matches, then it’s clearly safe to get back to work. The economy will be in terrible trouble at the end of all this. Yes, the furlough scheme was the right thing to do at the right time. And now is the right time to end it.

I agree.

Those who are on the shielded list should continue to be furloughed if they wish it.

Those not working would have to make their own decisions.

I know friends of ours are desperate for carers to return to look after the husband and would prefer to take the risk rather than continue as they are with no help.

Obviously the furlough scheme was essential at the start of lockdown to provide an income for those unable to work but I do not think it should have been extended until October.

October! That’s four months away! How on earth can the country afford the billions it will cost?

I read that the transmission of the virus is dropping by 4% a day and now the distancing has been reduced ,there really is no excuse for workers and children to not resume their normal lives.

Even professor doom and gloom himself doubts there will be a need for another complete lockdown, saying that if necessary it would just be on a local level.

Many of the pictures were doctored. Drone photos show that Bournemouth beach was busy but not that bad. Camber sands and Brighton were also busy but plenty of room according to friends. I have seen the estimates of rubbish on B/mouth go from 10 tonnes to 30 tonnes depending on source. B/mouth depends on beach goers and clears this type of waste all thru the summer months. A great deal of money was spent in B/mouth over the past few days which was desperately needed by business. Will there be a spike? Highly unlikely as we have not seen any spikes from other days at the beach or the VE day celebrations. Just let people enjoy themselves and live your own life.

MerylStreep

I see a teacher has been suspended for saying ( on the radio) that 'some' teachers have just been sitting at home doing nothing and not pulling their weight.

It sure how this relates to the Bournemouth beach incident ?
But the thing is that I’d guess in any job, profession etc there are those who don’t pull their weight. All I can say is you wouldn’t have got away with it in the school(s) i taught in

Do you honestly think JE that businesses that can open now or from 4 July are deliberately not so doing? Why would that be? I suppose there might be some potential scam but there’s always scams regardless