May 12th, 2020.

Lewes District Co-operative Alliance news release:


Co-operative Alliance Leaders at Lewes District Council have slammed the government for its new guidance opening up tourist spots for recreation and a relaxation in lock down measures, including allowing people to drive to outdoor publicly accessible open spaces irrespective of distance.

James MacCleary, Lib Dem councillor for Newhaven South, and Deputy Leader of Lewes District Council, said: “There is serious concern about how this new guidance will work in practice. We are now told that we can travel to use public spaces. Much of our district is in a National Park and on the coast which means that we could see a lot of people travelling here.
The government has been far from clear about how this will be policed especially as so few facilities are open.

"We cannot risk another spike in infections due to lack of clear national leadership.”

Zoe Nicholson, Leader of Lewes District Council and Green Party Councillor says: “We can not open our toilets safely
right now as our cleaning staff have been redeployed onto other Covid19 crisis duties. We risk people travelling long distances to find themselves inconvenienced. This has not been thought through. Imagine what this might do to our countryside and beaches!

" There is no economic reason and will risk spread of the virus from high to lower risk areas like our own. It makes no sense at all”