Walking "close to home" - what does this mean?

We have just to exercise in our local area by walking. I live in a place that's beside Belfast Lough that is good for walks but lots of people use it as most locals can walk to it. So I'm staying away from there unless a quiet Sunday morning around 8am when no one really about. It must be really awful for people with no green spaces nearby.

So what constitutes a local authority?
As nightowl pointed out that could be a good few miles.
This means we can’t shop in Waitrose because it’s in Breackland DC but can pop over to walk in Sheringham Park because it’s in North Norfolk, even though it’s further away.

Or is my local authority supposed to be our towns Town Council or even our village parish council? Sorry I am getting silly now?.

It certainly seems more confusing this time around. There is a council owned country park 5 miles from my home where we have regularly walked during the first lockdown, then when restrictions eased, but not yet since we went into tier 4 and now lockdown.

I have heard that earlier this week the police were there checking where everyone had come from. One person, who lives 5 minutes drive away (2 miles) was turned away because she doesn’t live in the same local authority as the country park. Presumably, anyone living within that authority is permitted to drive there even though this could involve a distance of fifteen miles each way. So I agree, guidance about the rules would be appreciated.

I’ve emailed our MP’s office asking him to obtain clarification and suggesting this should be part of the regulation . Unlikely to get a quick response though.

Sounds like it depends how officious the policeman is who enforces the regulations. Smile sweetly and be very polite and even pathetic. If you get one can the fine be appealed?

NotSpaghetti typical response! I’ve had similar when enquiring about rules with local authorities, referred back to the source you are querying about! Then ‘use your common sense’ as we are urged to do!

As far as I can recall, during the first lockdown the advice was that you could drive somewhere quiet for a walk, as long as the drive there was less than the hour’s exercise.

My dd and SiL do drive to areas where their young children can run around in complete (COVID-circs) safety. They are lucky in having several such areas within a very short drive.

Personally I can’t see the objection. Walking on pavements in urban or normal residential areas will usually mean encountering other pedestrians who apparently have never heard of social distancing and will make no attempt to move aside or into single file.* And it isn’t necessarily safe to step into the road to avoid them.

*At least that’s what I see every single time I’m out for my daily walk here. Luckily a good part of it is on very quiet roads where you can often walk down the middle of the road for a minute or two, no problem.

But many people won’t have anywhere like that nearby.

nadateturbe

There are few places to walk where I live in a busy small town. We all spend the time trying to avoid each other. Theres a lovely beach 15 minutes drive. But we can't go there.
My favourite NT property has said we should only go if we live locally. So that's out.
What is wrong with driving somewhere as long as you keep your distance from others?

Sorry but if I were in your shoes I would consider 15 minutes in a car to avoid crowds far more sensible.
I am frankly amazed at police waiting their time fining a woman with children for this when some shops are saying they can’t insist on customers wearing a mask.
In the last fine weather lockdown there were crowds of people huddled together in our huge open green space and not once did I see a sign of police presence nor hear of anyone being over on let alone fined.

I have no car to drive somewhere open and pleasant to walk. Until the weather deteriorated I could go round the block, but with ice and snow to negotiate I('m staying off the pavements - in any case there is a steep hill in the circuit, which leaves me puffing. So I walk round inside the house, in and out of each ground floor room, round the dining table, along the hall, behind the sofa.

There is always a cusp to general rules, where you come just outside the permitted behaviour, and feel it is unfair that you can't do what is just that bit beyond what is Ok for someone else. It is like the threshold for getting help with rent - if you are just above it you can end up worse off than someone who started poorer but is now eligible for various things.

Look on the bright side - at least you can drive to places like supermarkets, GPs, vaccinations.

Riverwalk yes, so imprecise- this is what I'd already found - also on the government website in the section on exercise.

This should be done locally wherever possible, but you can travel a short distance within your area to do so if necessary (for example, to access an open space)

Already had an answer from my local police. Super fast! I said I was aware I could drive to an "open space" and asked:

I'm keen to clarify how far is reasonable for someone to drive to an open space please?
I know that some people have been fined at nature reserve quite close to their home in a neighbouring county. Obviously it's nicer to walk in the countryside than "round the block".

The reply:

Thanks for your message. We're unable to answer these specific questions - Please refer to the government website for the latest guidance:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus
here you will find the answers to your questions.
Take care and stay safe

If fines are issued I would have thought there should be a legal definition of just how far you can be from home.

'Local area' is too imprecise.

From the government's website:

You should minimise time spent outside your home, but you can leave your home to exercise. This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.

Indeed! Most are taped off.

I have now emailed my local police. Maybe they have chapter and verse...

There are few places to walk where I live in a busy small town. We all spend the time trying to avoid each other. Theres a lovely beach 15 minutes drive. But we can't go there.
My favourite NT property has said we should only go if we live locally. So that's out.
What is wrong with driving somewhere as long as you keep your distance from others?

Oh, and I'm not complaining growstuff, just thought someone might have a link to the facts.

Thanks for everyone's input here but I'm still concerned not to get a fine and would just like something definitive.
Like others, I can walk out of my front door and keep on walking in a "loop" for an hour but it's much quieter if I drive first. Given that my daughter's friend was fined at just under 4 miles, I'm keen to get a handle on "the rules".

Maybe as someone suggested, each area is interpreting it differently. I can find nothing on my local police or council website.

Yes, England Soupy

The bloody point seems to be that some people have lost sight of the big picture and seem to have nothing better to do with their time than split hairs and complain it's "not fair".

Our favourite country park, with a fantastic play area, is only five miles from home but actually in the next county.
I'm not sure we should be going now, and haven't done since last year, even though we invariably have the play area to ourselves!

paddyanne

Scottish cities have loads of green spaces Maw, sure Glasgow means dear green place .

OFFS
Are you saying they should move from London to Glasgow?
I am perfectly familiar with (some, if not most) Scottish cities thank you - but that is not the bloody point.

Cornergran our local NT places are open. We're going tomorrow to one of them - about 10 miles away. They are SO secure and safe. If we get stopped I'll say it's for my mental health which it IS. If I stay in much more I'll go mad. And I'm sick of the sight of all the roads near me. We are extremely sensible and stay well away from other people.

Dear dear SD Is there anything about Scotland or where you live that you like ? I've never come across anyone who complains so much about the place they call home .i suppose its that BAD SNP's fault that you live in an area with nowhere to walk!!

I would have thought 4 miles was within your local area

What area do they mean, exactly? If they are talking about MSOA areas by which Covid cases are calculated, they vary in size.

Who decides what "near home" means? Is it down to an individual police officer to decide? 100 yards? 5 miles?

Unless, of course, they are in Wales where you are not allowed travel to a deserted wood in the car to exercise but have to travel nearly 40 miles (each way) to fetch essential medicine.

Sorry, I will say no more about that.
???