Recent suggestions ‘booze cruise’ revellers could be about to take advantage of the Island’s Tier 1 freedoms have been branded irresponsible by the leader of the Isle of Wight Council.
Ahead of the Island’s first weekend under the lightest Tier 1 controls, Councillor Dave Stewart said he was deeply alarmed to read Island Echo’s report that mainlanders might be planning to visit the Island for drinking sessions.
To help #KeepTheIslandSafe, council officers will be ensuring COVID-secure measures are in place over the weekend, focusing on the Island’s main gateway towns.
Councillor Stewart said:
“Suggestions of so-called ‘booze cruises’ visiting the Island are completely irresponsible and, I hope, ill-founded.
“We are working hard with the police and the ferry companies to put out messages that such behaviour is totally irresponsible and we will be supporting local businesses in managing any groups in a Covid-secure way that arrive with this intent.
“Our message is that wherever you live it’s important to play your part by following the rules. All we ask is that anyone coming over from Tier 2 must remember that the Tier 1 rules do not apply to them and they must follow their own tier’s rules.”
This means:
- if you’re planning to dine out or have a drink when you’re on the Island, you must not socialise with anybody outside of your household or support bubble in any indoor setting;
- you can see friends and family you do not live with (or do not have a support bubble with) outdoors only in a group of no more than 6. People should still maintain social distancing with anyone they do not live with.
Those living in Tier 3 should avoid travel altogether unless the journey is essential.
Meanwhile, the hospitality sector has a number of restrictions in place to ensure they remain Covid-secure environments. These include:
- Limiting bookings and tables to groups of no more than six.
- Ensuring adequate spacing between tables to allow for social distancing.
- Public to remain seated with table service were alcoholic is served.
Those travelling to the Island are asked to do so the ‘Wight’ way by following these simple steps:
- Plan and book your journey.
- Wear a face covering on public transport and in enclosed spaces.
- Maintain a social distance.
- Wash or sanitise your hands regularly.
- Isolate and get tested if you have symptoms — a new continuous cough, loss or change of sense of taste or smell, or a high temperature.
- If you have not already done so, download the NHS App and please use the QR code to check into venues.
Councillor Stewart added:
“We must continue to practice hands–face–space at all times and, I would suggest, always think carefully about what we are doing with the new freedoms we currently enjoy.
“Just because we can do something doesn’t mean we have to and we should always do it having due regard to the risks of transmission of the virus it might bring.”
Thank you Captain Obvious
really – this is all talk.
I got off the ferry two days ago – the day the lockdown ended and had to wait until hoardes of welsh sounding people, with lots of suitcases had disembarked before me.
Maybe the council should go around hotels and see if any of them have Welsh people stay as they are not supposed to leave Wales !!.
i seed a blake tother day
ee aint ilander i be bownd
Perhaps they should go and check local flocks of sheep,
I think IWC need to wake up and smell the coffee. I am aware of a number of individuals coming over with the express purpose of forming a group and having a weekends pub crawl, and they will absolutely NOT be following their own tiers rules…..
Yes but even in tier one they cannot be in groups bigger than six and have to book tables. That may put some off hopefully.
Shouldn’t be coming from a higher tier to a lower one . But the ferry companies were letting a far to many caravans and mobile homes over yesterday morning
The ferry company’s don’t care.
Under the rules they can if they are only in tier 2. They still have to adhere to tier 2 rules though, so if they do enter into a pub over here, they still have to order Cod and Chips. A scotch egg will also be acceptable. Both are proven to stop the spread of coronavirus, so this makes sense.
Councillor Stewart said:
You should have stopped anyone coming over here then we could stay in tier1. You and your council stop everything else so what’s so hard stopping ferry’s dropping off people for the mainland?. I don’t think Bob would mind staying at his home in oxford.