BEER: Residents and visitors must find a balance as lockdown is lifted

BEER Parish Council has released a statement on how it intends to ease the village out of lockdown.

The parish council has acknowledged that some residents may have concerns about the village opening up to visitors as the government's coronavirus lockdown restrictions are eased, but it said that tourists must be made to feel welcome as the local economy relies on them.

However, it will not be actively promoting the village as a tourist destination while the virus is still as a "critical stage".

In a statement posted on social media, the council said they must find a balance to keep both villagers and visitors safe.

The council added that we will all have to learn to live and work with social distancing, so it is discussing a number of measures to make this easier, including creating a wider pavement on Fore Street.

The statement read: "We are all aware that some lockdown measures are being lifted in phase 2 of the coronavirus pandemic, and some schools and businesses will reopen from June 1.

"The parish council understands that our villagers will feel different emotions about this; some maybe relieved that they can go back to work, open their business or travel longer distances to visit friends and family, however others will feel anxious and scared by this.

"We will all have to deal with these changes and the parish council met recently by a remote video conference to discuss how we can handle this. It's important that we have a plan and communicate this especially as phase 3, which may happen from July 1, is when restrictions on staying overnight and holidays may lift and the village will be open to welcome tourists.

"We are all aware that many families have been visiting Beer for years and see it as their second home. We hear stories of adults who came here on holiday with their parents 30 years ago and are still visiting years later bringing their children. We hear stories of people visiting with three generations and know that many people have owned their caravans for years and come to stay for the whole season.

"When people are allowed to stay overnight and come on holiday we need to be ready to welcome them and find a balance, keeping our villagers and visitors safe. We do not want visitors to feel unwelcome as our village does rely on tourism.

"Our local shops and restaurants which have worked so hard during the pandemic to keep serving us need their custom to keep open for the rest of the year, and especially through the winter.

"We want to reassure you, however, that we will not be actively promoting the village whilst the pandemic is still at a critical stage, rather manage the situation, as we know visitors will come when phase 3 is initiated.

"Social distancing is our main priority as lockdown eases. We are discussing various measures such as providing a wider pavement on a part of Fore Street to allow people to feel safe walking down to the beach and providing additional tables and chairs on the Jubilee to allow the cafes to open for mainly takeaways should they wish.

"There's also an idea to allow Squirrel, the new Seaton delivery service which so many Beer people have utilised, to open a pop-up greengrocers on Charlie's Yard occasionally.

"None of these ideas have been agreed, however if any of you have other ways or ideas in which we can support the safe re-opening of the village to look after locals interests, and support visitors, do get in touch.

"We've all got to learn to live and work with social distancing. We know that we're lucky to live and work in a beautiful village, and we're proud of how we've all reacted to the lockdown.

"We must now let common sense and kindness dictate our modes of behaviour and get back to some sort of 'new' normal.

"Now is the time to be positive and work out what the 'new' future will look like and how it will work. Thank you to everyone who has played their part so far during this pandemic – we're rightly proud of you all."

You can contact the parish council with your suggestions for social distancing and easing out of lockdown by emailing [email protected]