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    13

    May 2020

    Last Updated: 13/05/2020
    Harrogate
    Harrogate

    Cars back up at Harrogate district's beauty spots as walkers come out in force

    by Tamsin O'Brien

    | 13 May, 2020
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    Walkers returned to Swinsty and Fewston reservoirs today. With more than 50 cars parked along the verges by lunchtime and the car parks still closed, the Parish Council is unhappy

    cars-backed-up-at-swinstyfewston-may-13th
    Cars parked outside Swinsty reservoir in the first week of lockdown restrictions being eased.

    By midday more than 50 cars were parked on the verges around Swinsty reservoir today. It was a similar picture at Thruscross. It's the first day since the seven week lockdown that people have been allowed to drive to take exercise and many took full advantage of the new rules.

    The new guidelines conflict with the wishes of North Yorkshire County Council, the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Yorkshire Water which owns the reservoirs and their adjacent car parks. All clearly do not want people to drive out into the countryside at this stage.

    Like others the Stray Ferret spoke to at Swinsty today, Rachel Wesson and her son, Rory, had driven up from Leeds to walk their dog.

    "We've been doing the same walk for a long time now, we live in a built up area and it's nice to have a proper day out.  We have brought a picnic. When I saw the car park was shut though I did wonder if it was alright to come but I know we are allowed to do this"




    This, though, is the problem for the parish council. Graham Hebblethwaite, the chairman of Washburn Parish Council, says that with car parks shut and people continually arriving, even during lockdown, it has given them a real problem with access and wrecked verges.



    He says they now want Yorkshire Water to open the car parks:

    "People park on both sides of the road - even across gates. The police have been around many times even during lockdown but nothing seems to happen.  The car parks should have been opened today to stop all the mayhem".