[Travel] The impending Easter weekend 'second homes' exodus

[lost in london]

Police have already been stopping families travelling to the Lake District and other places and having to turn them back. They basically police escort them back to the motorway and see them on their way.

That was one family going to the lakes wasn't it? I can't tell from that 'convoy of caravans' story where one flipped on the M5 whether that was a subtle reference to gypsies or not.

I'm all for stopping movement, but we need to keep a sense of perspective here and worry about things that warrant being worried about.

 

[Bold Seagull]

That was one family going to the lakes wasn't it? I can't tell from that 'convoy of caravans' story where one flipped on the M5 whether that was a subtle reference to gypsies or not.

I'm all for stopping movement, but we need to keep a sense of perspective here and worry about things that warrant being worried about.

It’s about understanding behaviour. It isn’t about the actual danger of a couple of families travelling to holiday homes or whatever, it’s the power of the symbolism of that which is incredibly dangerous and could lead to a breakdown in people following the rules.

Think that is why the police are keen to make examples that they are turning people back. It’s a message more than anything, but it’s a massive worry if the lockdown breaks down.

 

[Guinness Boy]

That was one family going to the lakes wasn't it? I can't tell from that 'convoy of caravans' story where one flipped on the M5 whether that was a subtle reference to gypsies or not.

I'm all for stopping movement, but we need to keep a sense of perspective here and worry about things that warrant being worried about.

Lots of reverse snobbery on this thread but no one has yet pointed out that we are now in traditional Do As You Likey season. I'm sure with their well deserved reputation for respecting laws and cleanliness they will be welcomed with open arms when they arrive on Hove Lawns in the next few weeks.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

What happened was 'herd mentality' needed re-branding because as you have pointed out on numerous occasions, the thought of it is vile and obscene because deaths become an abstract statistic and the scientists didn't really realise the public would jump on it in that way. However, if some predictions are right, that the number of infections is far higher than anyone realises because the asymptomatic cases are far higher, then like it or loath it, herd immunity is what is actually happening, all we're doing is slowing it as much as possible, and we will have to until we have a vaccine that can accelerate the immunity. Wuhan is relaxing it's lockdown, most likely because so many now have the antibodies, otherwise it would just start spreading again.

The criticism is rightly as you said, whether the measures should have been introduced sooner. All that changed in the strategy was bringing the controls forward as the projections accelerated. Whitty and Vallance said we'd have lockdown for the biggest impact, and that's what they did. All they didn't do was mention the word 'herd' again, doesn't mean that actually that is what the world is experiencing and any relaxing of lock downs will be because immunity is growing and transmissions falling.

Top post

Have to admit to a sinking feeling tho when reading reports today that Passport Office staff are being coerced back to work by some high-up hotshot who is using the argument that '80% of us are going to get it anyway' and 'we have a backlog of urgent applications to clear'. Or words to that effect. Quite horrifying really

 

[Algernon]

Bloody West Country NIMBYs.
There’s always something they don’t want .

 

[Lincoln Imp]

People that already have nice houses and gardens thinking about going to their second homes need to be shot on site! They're probably the same people moaning at the people crammed into tiny flats sitting in a park for 20mins! The great social disconnect alive and kicking!

Sent from my SM-A600FN using Tapatalk

Which site do you suggest they are shot on? There's a choice, obviously.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Playing devils advocate here but what is the issue with someone using their second home as long as they go into lockdown when they get there?

It is a good question.

Until recently I was taking the family out to places near Faversham where I happen to know there are nice walks, and nonody else there. Recently we went past another great little place we used to visit, with a car park that would normally have 30 cars parked. There were 3. The next day the entrance to the car park was closed off. It was possible to park on the road nearby and take advantage of a completely empty forest, but we felt uncomfortable and came home. Since then, it has been garden only. But I have a fantastic garden.

My son (who you may recall having met at the football) lives across town in a flat. No garden. He's furloughed, and has been driving out like me, and has now found he can't find anywhere to go to by car. He hasn't been round to us because I'm over 60. So he has to take his chances and get his exercise and outside air by walking the streets.

So what's the problem driving to somewhere you know will be empty of people? It just feels wrong to me. Increasingly so.

I just heard that thing a nurse recorded a week or so ago who turned up to buy food after a 48h shift to find the supermarket stripped bare of fresh food. She was so distrought; it was absolutely shocking. People buying food they don't need just because they can. It's not right.

I just feel we need to make sacrifices right now, for the good of community spirit if nothing else. If that means not taking a long drive to your second home, feeling a little inconvenienced and deprived, so be it.

 

[blue'n'white]

Won’t happen imho, no one is going to be stupid enough to hit the motorway in a motorhome with bicycles on the back etc. let alone hitch up a caravan to a car filled with family.

Well I would like to think that you're right but I have severe doubts.There are an awful lot of extremely stupid people who think rules don't apply to them.
And, of course, it is these utter that will spoil it for everybody else. We will be confined to our homes because Tristram and his braying pals want to decamp to Cornwall or wherever for a couple of days.

 

[lost in london]

It’s about understanding behaviour. It isn’t about the actual danger of a couple of families travelling to holiday homes or whatever, it’s the power of the symbolism of that which is incredibly dangerous and could lead to a breakdown in people following the rules.

Think that is why the police are keen to make examples that they are turning people back. It’s a message more than anything, but it’s a massive worry if the lockdown breaks down.

Fair enough.

For what it's worth I am also concerned about the police / authorities occasionally overreaching their authority, and about the press over-egging bad behaviour. Locking parks and open spaces goes against the governments own guidance which recommends going to open spaces to get any needed daily exercise. I genuinely think the vast majority of people are taking this seriously and doing their best to do the right thing. I have been pleasantly surprised that people who I expected to take no real notice of the lockdown have been observing it pretty strictly. If we are constantly being told off and having ever stricter restrictions then I think it might backfire.

 

[Lincoln Imp]

Is there actually any evidence that people are planning on doing that in any material way? Sounds like you might be at danger of getting riled up about a hypothetical issue there otherwise, something best avoided right now given there are a lot of actual things to worry about.

Yes, there does seem to be a bit of socio economic grandstanding going on, with more than one of us getting excited about Porsche Cayenne's (sic - what is it with Cayennes and apostrophes?) Several posts seem to have been delivered by Stanley Baldwin, standing on a box, grasping a lapel and declaiming into the night.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Well I would like to think that you're right but I have severe doubts.There are an awful lot of extremely stupid people who think rules don't apply to them.
And, of course, it is these utter that will spoil it for everybody else. We will be confined to our homes because Tristram and his braying pals want to decamp to Cornwall or wherever for a couple of days.

Trouble is that just about every able-bodied person feels invincible until such point as they or a member of their family is directly affected. At which point they issue an impassioned plea to those who are not yet affected and who remain convinced of their invincibility. Who then promptly ignore it. Really tough cycle to break without imposing harsh legislation

 

[The Wizard]

It incredibly sad that they will have to direct significant resources to this really, a sad inditement of where society is with regards to being unable to take any simple instruction for the greater good, can you imagine sending city banker Hoyt, 29 who owns a Range Rover and and a second home in Penzance off to war? We’d be doomed.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

Yes but so far it's only chief medical officers who think it's okay.

I'm staggered by the amount if videos that people post showing themselves baiting the police having parties, moving between houses for drinks etc, they actually think it's funny!

 

[NooBHA]

Advice in Scotland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mRHuQDjVvM

 

[ManOfSussex]

It incredibly sad that they will have to direct significant resources to this really, a sad inditement of where society is with regards to being unable to take any simple instruction for the greater good, can you imagine sending city banker Hoyt, 29 who owns a Range Rover and and a second home in Penzance off to war? We’d be doomed.

They couldn't fight a broken finger nail, let alone a war. I admire the patience of the police, because I'd tell them to '**** off back to Sloane Square, you selfish DFL ****'' if I was one.

 

[Tim Over Whelmed]

They couldn't fight a broken finger nail, let alone a war. I admire the patience of the police, because I'd tell them to '**** off back to Sloane Square, you selfish DFL ****'' if I was one.

But this isn't a class issue. The internet is awash with "families" baiting the Police when they've met up for drinks and they are actually deliberately wasting Police time, not a Tabetha or Range Rover in sight! It's not class it's about people, from all walks of life that, these days, think the law and government advice doesn't apply to them.

 

[zeemeeuw]

Yes we've had a notice in the parish news letter ... "Despite rumours of Grockles moving into their 2nd homes, please refrain from gathering on the village green with your pitchforks and burning torches due to social distancing restrictions."

 

[Notters]

Was actually supposed to be staying at my in laws in Devon this weekend but wouldn't even dream of it.

 

[RossyG]

...then like it or loath it, herd immunity is what is actually happening,

Oh I’d like it. I’d like it a lot.

 

[dazzer6666]

Was actually supposed to be staying at my in laws in Devon this weekend but wouldn't even dream of it.

Good choice - could easily have got stuck in a crash caused by a convoy of caravans.............

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/local-news/m5-crash-caravan-convoy-dog-4033619