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Police Fine Driver For Driving To Beauty Spot To Eat Kebab

Police Fine Driver For Driving To Beauty Spot To Eat Kebab

Cops have warned that it was not classed as an essential journey

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A driver has been fined after travelling from Bristol to Cheddar Gorge to tuck into their kebab - in case you weren't aware this is not classed as 'essential travel' under current lockdown restrictions.

Posting on Twitter Avon and Somerset Police said: "Patrols of Cheddar Gorge this evening resulted in multiple vehicles being dispersed and 7 fixed penalty notices being issued for breaching Covid-19 legislation.

PA

"Travelling from Bristol to Cheddar to sit and eat kebabs in your vehicle is not a reasonable excuse!"

Thanks for clearing that up.

In a statement to Somerset Live, the force added: "Police patrolling in Cheddar [on Saturday] engaged with a number of people who were sitting in parked cars in Cheddar Gorge.

"Officers took the decision to issue fixed penalty notices to seven individuals whom they determined were not local to the area, were not members of the same household, and did not have a valid reason for their journey under the current COVID-19 regulations.

"We would ask that people follow the regulations, only travel when it is essential and take exercise locally to their home address, in order to save lives and protect the NHS."

PA

According to the current coronavirus rules: "You must not leave your home unless you have a reasonable excuse (for example, for work or education purposes).

"If you need to travel you should stay local - meaning avoiding travelling outside of your village, town or the part of a city where you live - and look to reduce the number of journeys you make overall."

Going outside for exercise is permitted, but the government says this 'should be done locally where possible'.

However, the rules also add: "You can travel a short distance within your area to do so if necessary (for example, to access an open space)."

You won't be surprised to learn that there's no mention of kebabs anywhere in the new rules.

PA

Last week, two friends say there were 'surrounded by police' and whacked with a £200 fine each after travelling to a local nature spot to go for a walk.

Jessica Allen and Eliza Moore, both 27, arrived separately at Foremark Reservoir in Derbyshire on Wednesday (6 January) and believed they were following the coronavirus rules on exercising outdoors as they both live just 10 minutes away.

But were then 'read their rights' by cops, before being slapped with the fine for breaking lockdown.

Derbyshire Police have defended the decision to fine the women, saying that driving for exercise was 'not in the spirit' of lockdown.

Jessica said: "If anything I thought I was being more responsible, and I thought I was staying local as the guidance suggests.

"We went in separate cars as well as we thought that was more sensible - but the police thought apparently not."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, Coronavirus, crime