Coronavirus: Ministers 'reluctant' to close beaches over crowds

Beaches will only be closed by the government "reluctantly", Environment Secretary George Eustice has said - after a major incident was declared as thousands crowded into Bournemouth.

Mr Eustice suggested it was understandable people had flocked to beaches due to Thursday's record heat.

But he described the scenes as a "matter for concern".

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has suggested beaches could be closed by the government if infections rise.

Mr Eustice told BBC Breakfast that packed beaches on the south coast of England should be viewed in the context of the exceptionally hot weather.

"We just have to recognise yesterday was the hottest day of the year, incredibly hot, a lot of people had the same idea, they all went to the beach, and yes of course those scenes at Bournemouth are a matter for concern," he said.

"The British weather being what it is maybe that will be short-lived and people will return to the type of social distancing they've actually demonstrated quite well."

He said people have "generally" observed current social distancing rules - keeping 2m apart from other households.

"We are appealing to everyone who does decide to go to the beach to observe that social distancing and stay within their family," he said, adding he and his family visited Bournemouth beach two weeks ago.

Mr Eustice told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Mr Hancock had "made clear we do have the powers to go back in and act".

"We don't want to do that and we will be very reluctant to do so," he said.

Internationally, France, Portugal and Spain are among the countries that allowed visits to beaches during early phases of reopening.

In Sydney, beaches were closed for a month during the early part of Australia's lockdown and reopened after the country's daily rate of new cases has dropped below 100 for a couple of weeks.

But beaches in New York City, which has been badly hit by the virus, will only fully reopen to swimmers on 1 July.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council said Bournemouth beach was "stretched to the absolute hilt" on Thursday, while Dorset Police said there were reports of gridlocked roads, fights and overnight camping.

A local MP estimated 500,000 people visited Dorset on Thursday and police appealed for information after three men from London were stabbed on Bournemouth Pier.

Sam Crowe, the director of public health at Dorset Council, told the BBC the major incident was a standby measure declared due to an increase in visits to local emergency departments and as heavy traffic delayed ambulances.

One man at Bournemouth beach on Thursday told the BBC: "It's probably going to cause a second wave. People are just doing what they want."

Another woman said: "Social distancing has gone out the window and obviously I think we are part of that because we are here from Hertfordshire today. It's packed."

Tobias Ellwood, the Tory MP for Bournemouth East, said Bournemouth beach should have been closed down.

"We need to learn from this and recognise that if we're going to be serious about tackling this pandemic then we need to be swifter in being able to provide support to local authorities that are unable to cope," he said.

'Firmer action'

Tim Loughton, Tory MP for Worthing, told BBC Radio 4's World at One he feared people were "becoming complacent".

"For some people they think 'well actually it's no longer a problem and we can go out as normal'. And with the hot weather like this who wouldn't want to go to the beach," he said.

He added there needs to be "firmer action because people are just not taking it seriously".