Portsmouth seen as 'quieter' on the first day of lockdown measures being eased

Following the prime minister’s televised address on Sunday night, Wednesday marked the first day that lockdown measures were officially relaxed.

People could go to the park or the beach, and even meet with one person from another household, so long as social distancing was maintained.

For residents in Portsmouth, a popular hotspot for meet-ups, exercise and more has always been Southsea seafront – so there were concerns about how the area would cope.

From Canoe Lake as far as the eye could see, people were going for their daily run, or walking with their loved ones, and all keeping their distance from one another.

But according to those down at the seafront, today was actually quieter than many had expected, although the weather may have played a part in that.

Ben Dawson, 18 from Southsea, said: ‘I’m surprised it’s not busier.

‘I think when the weather gets really sunny we will see more people sitting on the beach and the common, but if they’re socially distancing then there's really nothing wrong with that.

‘There’s also going to be more places for people to go, such as the tennis courts.’

Stephen Gorys, 62 from Southsea, added: ‘I come to the seafront every day to walk the dogs and it’s been reasonably quiet today.

‘But I’m not convinced the government’s message to stay alert will work – we need to be sensible and stay at home as much as possible, otherwise we could see a second peak.’

Water sports and the use of outdoor sports facilities are now also permitted.

But leader of Portsmouth City Council, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, has asked people to think about social distancing first and foremost.

He said: ‘I know how important open spaces are, so I would urge people to use the spaces we have available in Portsmouth, including the waterfront, responsibly.

‘We all need to continue to follow the rules in order to keep people safe.

‘If it seems that people are breaching the guidance and putting others in danger, we will have to look again at whether these facilities can remain open.’

A Portsmouth doctor is also warning people against jumping the gun, instead asking them to protect both their families and Queen Alexandra Hospital.

Dr John Knighton, medical director at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said: ‘It's clear that the measures put in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 have made a real difference to the rate of transmission and helped save lives.

‘Even if people are able to move around a little more than previously, continuing to follow the social distancing guidance is key to helping to reduce the rate of infection, protecting yourself, your family and loved ones and the NHS.’

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