Call to limit driving for exercise to stop 'surge' of visitors to Lakes

A Cumbrian MP is calling on the Prime Minister to limit the number of miles people can drive for exercise to stop a 'surge' of tourists to the Lake District.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron has wrote an open letter to Boris Johnson after he announced lockdown restrictions will be eased this week.

One of the changes is 'unlimited exercise', with people now able to drive to a location for their daily amount.

This has raised concerns with local residents and Cumbria tourism bosses, who are worried the easing of the rules will encourage more people to come to the county.

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MP Tim Farron brought these concerns to light in his letter to the Prime Minister, he said: "Here in South Lakeland, we have the third highest COVID-19 infection rates per head of population in the country.

"And with an average age ten years above the national average, we have a far more vulnerable population.

"Coronavirus is still tragically claiming hundreds of people’s lives every day and so restricting mass movement at this time would seem the responsible and safe thing to do.

"I would therefore implore you to a put specific limit on the number of miles that people can drive for exercise to help prevent the inevitable high influx of people travelling to the Lakes, the Dales and South Cumbria."