Photos of 'heaving' Southsea seafront lead to concerns about Covid-19 spread

Pictures taken by Solent News and Photo Agency showed large numbers gathered along Clarence Esplanade yesterday.

It comes after crowds gathered in the same spot last weekend, as captured from drone footage released by Portsmouth City Council.

Leaving the house for exercise is permitted and the coffee shops along the pier are perfectly entitled to continue trading.

But readers of The News have voiced concerns about how the crowds make social distancing much more difficult.

Commenting on our Facebook page, Kenneth Atkins said: ‘I don't think people have got any sense – I hope the vaccine works because people aren't doing it and they don't seem to care.’

Sharon Gardener said: ‘My son works down the seafront and it was just as busy.

‘People are just stupid and inconsiderate of others dying around them, but they all just want to hope it doesn’t happen to anyone one they know.’

Joeclyn Castle considered going for a walk on the seafront with her husband, but had second thoughts after seeing the huge crowds.

She said: ‘In some places social distancing was impossible, especially around coffee outlets and hardly anyone was wearing masks.

‘Any of you that think this is rubbish should think again. People still don’t seem to be getting it.’

While some suggested that people are driving to the seafront from outside the city, Julie Ann Bonsall said it could simply be down to population density.

She said: ‘It is possible a large majority of people on the seafront are locals and unfortunately decided to make the most of the weather at the same time.

‘If people from out of the area decide to drive to the seafront it's up to the authorities to deal with that appropriately.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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