Does anyone have any idea who to contact regarding excessive amounts of people in Acton Park. It seems that despite all the warnings to the contrary people are picnicing and lying in the sun. WHile I appreciate nits not easy for people when its sunny byt this is endangering all of us. Why is there no one monitoring the parks? Where are the park rangers or police? I am so angry but do not want to get into an argument by telling people what I think.
Melissa Halpern ● 1992d32 Comments
Well tonight coming through the park the skate boarder are back there were 3 of them skate boarding must have broke down the fence
carol corbett ● 1972d
I think the issue is that who is entitled to that space? You are supposed to be allowed to use parks for exercise, which implies moving. If someone just sits in the park, what is to stop everyone doing that? Soon you have a full park. Is the person who got their first entitled to the space? Are they then entitled to sit there all day? Who polices it?There was a video that went viral of a woman on Richmond Riverside getting arrested when she was sat drinking on her own having been asked to move on 45 minutes earlier by the police. Some people said she was on her own and was in the right, but the weekend before there were dozens of complaints to police that the area was packed with people out drinking. It was only empty because the police had been moving everyone else on. Had they all reacted like her, it would have been packed again.
Ron Lewis ● 1980d
I walk to work and walk back through acton park every day and the thing that gets me is I have never seen so many people in the park I suppose people have no where else to go .I wonder when it's all over will they still come to the park
carol corbett ● 1986d
It's been a bit quieter today and I haven't seen the persistent skateboarders - perhaps they've at last got the message. The police were there a couple of times yesterday and I think park rangers today. We'll see what the weekend brings.
Nina Battleday ● 1987d
Correction: I should have said that I agree, it is not for me to say that you are correct.I thank you. 😊
Rosco White ● 1987d
You are correct Ms Santos.
Rosco White ● 1988d
We are amidst a virus pandemic that is killing thousands of people. The message is very clear. We are all adults here and don't need to be told how long to be outside for. We can all see how bad it is! The skateboarders are not simply going for a short skate round the park for a quick exercise session, they are out there for hours on end. I have seen groups of people; teenagers and children of all ages in the parks that don't look like they are from the same household, I could be wrong, men meeting up and drinking beer in the park and why are people having picnics - seriously?? Some people are still almost bumping into me in the streets when we are out walking our dogs (so much for social distancing). A lady passed a rude comment at the Oaks while shopping at Lidl when I stood back to let her walk through the automated doors with her family. She was offended that I didn't want to walk past her. I was being polite by letting her go first as I'm conscious of social distancing not only for the safety of myself but mostly the safety of others as I could very well be a carrier. A lot of people are doing the right thing and following guidelines but there are a noticeable percentage of people that seem to be spoiling the little bit of freedom that we still have by taking advantage of the situation. On a normal working day how many people would be spending all day in the parks?
Tanya Santos ● 1988d
Yes good point. A clear time limit could clear up confusion.
Richard Foster ● 1988d
That make sense but it does point to the fact that what could potentially cause problems is not so much what people do in parks but how long they spend there. Perhaps the government guidance should be less restrictive on what people do but more so when it comes to how long they spend doing it.
Mark Evans ● 1988d
Mark, I am sure one person sunbathing in the park would not do any harm, but what if 50 people decided to do so? It is only fair that the rules apply to everyone. If they were relaxed the parks would have been heaving this weekend as there is little much else to do.Moreover, people walking or jogging are unlikely to do that for hours on end but people sitting and having picnics or sunbathing are probably more likely to.It’s common sense really and the scientists and medical officers have explained the reasoning for social distancing time and again.
It's what the original poster was complaining about.Not sure what the issue is with skateboarding. Seems to me to be well within the scope of the government's advice to take exercise. Cricket is a bit more questionable but it is a non-contact sport so probably the best choice at the moment. The argument in favour is that the health benefits to the people participating outweigh the risks they present to everyone else.
Except that is not the discussion here.We are talking about people playing cricket together and skateboarding together, in close proximity.
Rosco White ● 1989d
To be clear, I am not saying people shouldn't obey government advice. What I am saying is that there would be wider adherence to the advice if it was explained why a particular activity is bad. From all I have read sitting in a public park presents no extra risk than walking or running around it. If the government has evidence that it does then they should share it. On the other there are clear benefits from sitting out in the sun both in terms of mental health and reducing vitamin D deficiency. Some of these people you describe as selfish may have been working a night shift in a local hospital, live in a small flat with no garden and are clinging on to their sanity by lying in the sun for an hour or so. By all means stop them, but give a reason for doing so.
Mark Evans ● 1989d
We do not have enough police to enfore the lockdown. In France they have 100000 officers dedicated to enforcing the lockdown and have stopped 3.7 million people so far. Of course they have fire arms which highlights one of your points. Did you see a coulple on Brighton beach with their barbeque. A police officer asked them to put it out and they just argued in the end he used his helmet to put it out.
Nicholas Beard ● 1989d
Entitled, and the rules don't apply to them, plus they obviously just don't care.Bit of Martial Law with an automatic weapon pointed at them and they might have a very profound and very sudden change of heart? 😂
Have just noticed the most persistent of the skateboarders zooming around just now. It's been quieter today, but this particular lad just can't keep away. Also a group of four or five people having an impromptu cricket match. When will they learn?
Nina Battleday ● 1989d
Oh please. The problem is, and I don’t exclude myself from this, people in this country are spoilt and don’t know what hardship means.Asking people to stay home and watch Netflix for a few weeks to help save thousands of lives is hardly a big ask wether they live in Balmoral or a shoe box.People need to grow up and follow the simple rules or risk the rest of use losing further liberties.
Richard Foster ● 1989d
With gardens!
Chris Hurley ● 1989d
It was just a suggestion. Walking around, you're not touching anything to leave your virus on.
Susan Kelly ● 1989d
If some good could come out of this Pandemic, it could be Ealing council building family friendly homes and not stacked rabbit hutches? Some hope!
Libby Kemp ● 1989d
I spoke to a Park ranger this morning. The directive is that you can go out once a day to exercise. Sunbathing and picnicking do not count as exercise.People are still tearing up the tape on the exercise machines which he said they might have to dismantle to stop this happening.
Kim Rugg ● 1990d
I've not heard that rationale before but by extension would it not mean that people moving around are expanding the area of potential infection? If it is indeed the reason then Public Health England should give it as an explanation. Otherwise it is quite easy for people to assume that this is a government run by people for whom the very concept of people not having an estate let alone a garden is something that they are unable to grasp.
Mark Evans ● 1990d
I suppose the rationale is that one family sits on the grass and then leaves, then another family sits in the same spot, and so on, and if the first family has an infected person, then they suddenly all do.
Susan Kelly ● 1990d
I completely disagree and am with Mark on the point that it's all well and good for the lucky ones with gardens. If people are keeping their distance I don't have a problem with family groups sitting in the park. If I go through the park to get to a shop that's my problem, I could walk round it. I have a garden so I sit in that and keep the park areas free for those that are cooped up in small flats with small children that require exercise & fresh air. #besensible
Amanda Hyde ● 1990d
It's irrelevant whether a small single household picnic is 'safe' or not, as sitting about outside is against the rules/guidance/instructions/regulations. By their nature, laws and regulations are often arbitrary, but still need to be followed in the interests of maintaining social order. So the answer to any picnickers querying why they have to move is 'cos I say so' and that should be the end of it.
Peter Evans ● 1990d
We stayed in our home over the very lovely weekend we had but we were able to get out into the garden.I have to admit to having some sympathy for anybody who lives in a property without access to an open air space who decides to go to a park. Could someone explain to me how sitting down and having a picnic is more likely to spread the disease than walking a dog or going for a run?
You are right. However fines are not much good as they will not be paid. Dont pay fine then prison. Wrong prisioners are being let out because of the situation. Probably a lot of people dont even know about the lockdown!!!
Nicholas Beard ● 1990d
I was reading in one country they have 100000 police just enforcing the lockdown, and they warned or questioned 3.7 million people. Of course we are short of police, as well as ICU beds.
i doubt that the skateboarders and footballer using the park this afternoon will read this! Maybe a bit of police enforcement and a few fines would help?
Nina Battleday ● 1990d
This was posted today by the Park Rangers: Please only use the parks for limited exercise #StayHomeSaveLives As Rangers we see most people are using parks responsibly with social distancing and not using equipment, but they are still really busy. Ealing has one of the highest infection rates for COVID 19, so please limit your time in our parks #ProtectOurNHS #Covid19 #Ealing #Ealingparks #parkranger
Chris Hurley ● 1991d
So much for Ealing Council Park Patrols and the Police,this is a serious time for all,some have not got the messageat all,think again,BORIS.
Dr John Stolworthy D.Sc ● 1991d
Contact the Police on 101 and select Anti Social behaviour. I've done this a couple of times during the week, especially as one of The skate boarders prised open the fencing with what appeared to be a pair of bolt cutters. The police have been there two or three times but I suspect they can't patrol everything.
Nina Battleday ● 1991d