Coronavirus: Pleas for visitors to 'stop visiting the Fylde coast'

Jane Littlewood runs Visit Fylde coast online to promote the area, and would usually encourage everyone to visit the Fylde coast, enjoy the sunny weather and help the local economy.

But after social distancing measures and isolation advice for the elderly and vulnerable was issued by the Government amid the coronavirus outbreak, Jane was concerned that the advice was not being taken seriously, and had fallen on deaf ears.

Now she has urged visitors to stop coming to the seaside - and her concerns were echoed by Fylde council, after large numbers of people also were spotted at St Anne's beach and in Lytham over the weekend.

Jane said: "I never thought I would ask people not to come to the Fylde coast.

"Yesterday (March 22) was just like any other Bank Holiday. I live on the seafront at Cleveleys and it was non-stop there all day, there were people all over the beach and the promenade.

"A lot of the people who visit the beach aren't locals, and people are just oblivious to the fact they should be staying inside or keeping their distance between each other."

A video Mrs Littlewood posted to the Visit Cleveleys facebook group showed cars parked on double-yellow lines along the promenade, with most spaces taken as hoards of revellers parked up to enjoy the sun.

She also runs volunteer groups Rossall beach residents and community group, and Care for Cleveleys, and said the groups are adapting to virtual communication, as they arrange alternate days to continue their beach cleans at times when there are fewer people around.

"There shouldn't be big crowds of people in the town centres or on our beaches," she continued.

"We should be staying in, or at least keeping away from others, who knows what germs we are leaving around for other residents to pick up when we have to go out to do our shopping.

"If people continue to be stupid, this pandemic will just go on forever. Burying your head in the sand won't solve the problem, we all need to be sensible adults about this.

"Life will settle down eventually, but we need to be respectful of each other and just do what we're told."

Not only did crowds gather at the Wyre end of the coast over the weekend, but Fylde's St Anne's beach and Lytham green were also visited by groups of day-trippers enjoying the weather.

Coun Cheryl Little, Fylde council's tourism and leisure committee chairman, echoed Jane's pleas for visitors to stop heading to the Fylde coast.

She said: "I can't believe how many people there were in areas such as Lytham Green and St Annes Promenade at the weekend - they really do need to stay away until this is all over.

"They were even bringing their caravans and camper vans - so much for social isolation, I was disgusted at the numbers.

"Normally of course we welcome them with open arms but these are by no means normal circumstances.

"We have to look out for our residents and these visitors are taking away valuable resources needed to look after the people who live here. Please stay away."