Wokingham Borough Council is keeping its green spaces open and accessible to local people during the Covid-19 crisis – and we need public support to keep doing so.
Our country parks – particularly Dinton Pastures and California Country Park – are popular locations and there is always the risk that social distancing cannot be maintained because of that popularity. Until now, almost all visitors have been sensible – not travelling far to the parks, not going in large groups and keeping the two metre rule – and the council is urging people to continue with this.
WBC executive member for environment Cllr Parry Baath said: “There have been a few cases of stupid, anti-social behaviour at our parks – people driving to them and parking inconsiderately nearby for example. But in the main people have been sensible and that is allowing us to keep them open. Dinton Pastures and California Country Park are our big concerns because they are so popular - during the first weekend of the lockdown measures they came close to being overrun and we cannot risk that again. But we are desperate to keep them open for walkers to enjoy, which is why we have to keep their car parks closed for now – the risk of overcrowding if we don’t is too great.
“Our plea is that, as the lockdown measures continue, everybody in the borough respects them and helps keep us all as safe as possible.”
The boroughs country parks are all open to visitors but their play areas and fishing are closed. The Dinton Activity Centre is also closed at this time. The decision to keep the car parks closed has been taken in partnership with Thames Valley Police. Countryside Service officers and other staff will be around Dinton Pastures at the weekend to make sure cars are not parking illegally or anti-socially.
