Coronavirus: Keep parks open during lockdown unless it’s ‘impossible’ to do so, government urges

Minister says he recognises those ‘in flats without gardens, cramped accommodation, who desperately need this open space’

Local councils have been told to keep parks open unless it is “impossible” to do so, as the government reacts to criticism of high-handed town halls.

Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary, revealed he had intervened in the controversy over thousands of visitors flocking to green spaces in the warmer weather, despite the coronavirus crackdown.

One London authority closed a major park on Sunday – warning residents were flouting social distancing rules – but was accused of risking a revolt from people trapped in tiny homes.

Mr Jenrick said he recognised the plight of people “who live in flats without gardens, cramped accommodation, who desperately need this open space”.

He said he had a “lot of sympathy” with local authorities, having spoken to “a number” of councils who had closed parks over the weekend, saying: “This is their decision.”

But he added: “I have asked them to be very judicious in taking that step and only to do that where they feel it is impossible to maintain social distancing rules within their parks or open spaces.”

A “very small minority” of people “risk ruining this for others”, the minister told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

The comments came as Mr Jenrick argued it might still be possible to ease some of the lockdown measures “in the weeks to come”, despite the UK nearing the expected peak of virus deaths.

There was currently “excess capacity” in intensive care units across the country, but that had to be maintained to ensure the NHS was not overwhelmed.

“If we can do that then we can look in the weeks to come to begin to very carefully... lift some of those measures,” Mr Jenrick said.

“But an exit strategy that’s sustainable will also have to be accompanied by much greater testing and tracing than we are able to do today.”

The last comments risk fresh accusations of government confusion – coming just 24 hours after Matt Hancock, the health secretary, warned an even tougher lockdown might be necessary.

Lambeth Council, which closed Brockwell Park in south London after saying 3,000 people, many sunbathing or in large groups, had visited on Saturday, was expected to reopen it on Monday.

Police moved people on at Primrose Hill, northwest London, and rules were breached on the south coast too, but ministers believe the public is largely obeying the rules.

There is some confusion over whether it is acceptable to sit down and enjoy the sunshine – given that once-daily exercise is allowed under the official guidelines – but Mr Hancock made clear that “sunbathing is against the rules”.