Coronavirus: Clapham Common park benches taped off by council
Lambeth Council says it has sealed off the benches to prevent the transmission of the virus.
Friday 10 April 2020 15:30, UK
A London council has been criticised for taping off its benches during the coronavirus lockdown.
Lambeth Council has blocked off its benches and rotunda in Clapham Common, southwest London, in a bid to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 illness, the disease caused by coronavirus.
But the move has come under fire from residents, who are concerned about elderly and vulnerable people not having anywhere to sit if they need to rest.
Matthew Lesh, a resident in the area, tweeted: "The benches at Clapham Common have now been tied up in hazard tape. [It's] totally absurd. Sitting on a park bench, metres away from others, does not spread this virus.
"@lambeth_council should be ashamed of themselves - one of life's little joys unnecessarily restricted."
Benali Hamdache, co-chairman of LGBTIQA+ Greens and London Assembly candidate for the Green Party, said he felt the move was a "heavy handed" approach.
He told Sky News: "It is definitely something that concerns me. I previously sprained my ankle and a public bench was the only thing that helped me get home that day.
"My partner also has a chronic foot problem and getting out and about with it before being diagnosed was a nightmare, so having benches really helped.
"A lot of vulnerable people are having to rely on themselves on the exercise and the food they need and it can be really hard getting around without them.
"My biggest concern is the people who are most likely to flout the social distancing rules are not going to be the people put off by this tape. It will be the people who actually need the benches are the people who are most likely to find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place."
Several people also praised the move, raising concerns about the hygiene of the benches.
One man said in a tweet: "Someone sits on the bench. Touches the arm. Walks away. Someone else sits on the bench. Touches the arm. Walks away. Repeat. Eventually someone with the virus touches the arm. Next person touches the arm. Picks up the virus. Repeat. This is why use of benches etc not a good idea."
Residents in the capital have previously been criticised by the police and local councils for flouting social distancing rules implemented by the government during the lockdown.
Last Sunday Lambeth Council closed Brockwell Park - which is a mile and a half away from Clapham Common - after 3,000 people visited.
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In response to the benches being taped off, a Lambeth Council spokesman said: "Hard surfaces, such as benches and play equipment, could harbour the virus.
"For public health reasons, they have been fenced off to minimise the potential transmission of the virus so that people can enjoy Lambeth's award-winning parks safely, provided they follow the rules on social distancing and responsible use."