‘Disaster waiting to happen’: visitors flock to Skegness
I normally end on a jolly (there is a link there for anyone who knows Skegness) note, but on this occasion I wanted to draw attention to the actions of those unthinking people who are providing a short term boost but long term disaster for our seasonal seaside resorts. I know how important a good summer season is for the traders in Skegness and this behaviour will push everything way back removing any prospect of things returning to at least vaguely normal for the main season. This story tells us:
A dentist has warned of a “disaster waiting to happen” as thousands of people flocked to his seaside town in spite of official guidance to stay at home to curb the spread of coronavirus. Hundreds of thousands of people were reported to have visited Skegness, in Lincolnshire, on Saturday, flouting the advice to maintain “social distancing”.
Marc Jones, Lincolnshire’s police and crime commissioner, has called for the town’s caravan sites and arcades to be closed, “and quickly”.
In a video that has been viewed almost 25,000 times, Skegness dentist Dr Mitchell Clark also urged local businesses to shutter their shops and called for caravan parks to be closed.
Clark, who voluntarily closed his dental studio last Tuesday, said he was “appalled” to see his town “looking like it does on a busy summer day” as he drove home from walking his dog along a deserted section of beach.
“I view these actions as massively, massively socially irresponsible. I personally think that those involved should be ashamed of themselves,” he said. “Now is the time for us all to come together, to stay at home bar essential trips, to look after people and to do the right thing.”
He warned that the schools being closed and the caravan parks being open would bring an “enormous influx” of visitors into the small town next week.