Quarantine the Isle of Wight? Parkdean, MP and others' messages to tourists

Parkdean told the Isle of Wight County Press that its bars, restaurants, swimming pools, leisure facilities, entertainment and other amenities had closed and resorts were running on ‘skeleton provision’, in line with the government’s message on social distancing.

It said that 70 per cent of its caravans and lodges are owned by individual families as second/holiday homes and said “there is no instruction or logic to evicting people who are enjoying the fresh air in their own space.” 

Some Islanders are calling for much stricter measures. In an open letter to the Prime Minister this week, one group of concerned local residents called for a quarantine of the Isle of Wight and said ferry travel should be limited to the delivery of food, fuel and essential freight, medical personnel and emergency response teams.

They wrote: “Stop non-essential cross-Solent travel to the Isle of Wight with immediate effect. It will give the NHS staff a real chance of being able to save lives. Do nothing, people die. No holiday makers or second home owners to come to the Island and the operators must carry out screening and validity checks, to prevent abuse. The Island has a natural defence and yet continued crossings breach that daily. Change is needed now.” 

Steve Richards, CEO, Parkdean Resorts said: “Our thoughts go to the vulnerable members of society who are suffering and the emergency services who are doing such a great job. It is absolutely not the government’s intention to shut down caravan parks which by definition provide standalone self-catering accommodation and plenty of space for people to socially distance themselves and enjoy open space and fresh air.  We have complied fully with government instructions and take our responsibilities seriously for those who visit our parks.” 

Earlier this week, the County Press asked Visit Isle of Wight for a comment on reports that tour operators were continuing to transport large numbers of tourists to the Island. The organisation did not want to comment directly, but Visit Cornwall has told visitors to consider staying away until later in the year. 

Read more: Visit Isle of Wight torism boss, Will Myles message to the Island: Coronavirus: We will bounce back, says Isle of Wight tourism boss

In a statement, Visit Cornwall said: “We are aware that additional visitors to Cornwall at this time will potentially put extra pressure on public services, including the NHS.Our advice is for visitors to plan to come to Cornwall later in the year when more of our facilities are open for business, trading normally, and when visitors will get the high-quality experience they associate with coming to Cornwall.

“Think carefully about the implications of being removed from your normal social network during the coronavirus period, the risk of not being able to travel back home as planned, to be aware that supermarkets are experiencing the same pressures here as elsewhere, and consider the added pressure on public services in a rural area which this travel may cause.

“We urge people to delay their visit to Cornwall to a later stage. This will also reassure our communities that we are doing everything possible to contain the spread of Coronavirus over the next few weeks.” 
 

MSP for Skye, Lochaber Kate Forbes issued a similar message on Twitter. She said: “If you live elsewhere, please don’t use the Highlands as your means of self-isolation. People live here who are trying to follow government guidance and the continuing flow of campervans and other traffic who appear to be escaping the cities is not helping.”
 

The Isle of Wight’s MP, Bob Seely, told the Isle of Wight County Press today (Sunday) that he did not want to comment on individual companies and said it was the right of individuals to visit their holiday homes. But he had a wider message for larger groups of tourists traveling together.

Mr Seely said: “When it comes to tourism, [Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s economic] measures were to protect the hospitality industry. People need to follow the instructions the government’s giving - especially if at-risk people are coming over. 

“I’ve had concerns. My reading is that non-essential travel and communications are wound down so that people are only doing the essentials. I'm assuming that means no tourists. People who’ve got houses down here? Coming to the Island is absolutely their right.”

Mr Seely says he anticipates tourism picking up later in the year, but admits the long-term impacts are ‘unclear’, as the government’s latest plan suggests varying action may need to be taken over 12 months, to lessen the impact of coronavirus.