'They stick out like a sore thumb'- Derbyshire residents slam visitors to county despite lockdown as police report MORE Covid breaches
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Yesterday (Monday, February 8) saw police catch three visitors to Baslow from London who told officers they had travelled despite the national lockdown because they ‘were bored’.
A spokesperson for Bakewell, Hathersage and White Peak villages SNT said: “Unfortunately, Albanian driving licenses don’t work here after ten years of residency, so vehicle seized. A long walk and Covid fines incoming.”
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Hide AdPolice on evening patrols in Buxton and Chapel also dealt with another Covid breach that saw £200 fines issued to four people who had travelled to a holiday let.
Since the start of the pandemic, Derbyshire Police have so far handed out around 900 fines for Covid-19 breaches.
The force has been accused of a “heavy handed” approach to fines but many residents say they are concerned they are being putting risk by people coming into the county for non-essential reasons.
Commenting on Facebook, Craig Wilson said: “There’s people obviously travelling from outside their own area all the time, and not for essential travel, they stick out like a sore thumb with their rucksacks on.
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Hide Ad"They’re so obvious, they’re always in pairs and they don’t always wear a mask whilst waiting.
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Hide Ad“Exercise starts at your door around your local area where you live.
"It will just take longer to come out of lockdown, but I think there’s a few who have never been in it and think they are above the law, and the rules don’t simply apply to them.”
Mark Taylor said: “We have many walkers and cyclists going past our house on the lane. The area all around Baslow and Bakewell has many visitors from outside the area.
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Hide Ad"Many driving to Chatsworth House have got a parking ticket, many walking around the garden. Not sure why Chatsworth car parks are open considering locals can walk into the area.”
Elaine Wilson said: “I have friends in Bakewell and I haven’t seen them since last summer. I live just 100 yards from the Derbyshire border, but wouldn’t dream of going out there.”