People are being urged to think carefully before considering travelling to a beach this weekend and to check it is open and safe to visit.
Given the change in the Government’s advice on lockdown measures this week, the Local Government Association said it likely that many members of the public will travel to beaches in England if the weather is fine this weekend and in the coming weeks.
This poses a potential challenge for those councils responsible for beach safety.
The LGA is urging people to check advice on local council websites before they travel to check whether the beach is open and lifeguard provision is at normal levels.
The RNLI suspended lifeguard provision during lockdown and there are currently no lifeguards on the 240 beaches that it normally patrols. Where normal lifeguard provision is absent, visitors are advised not to enter the water and to read safety information provided locally.
People must also not ignore beach closures or try and use dangerous alternate routes to a beach.
Cllr Simon Blackburn, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said:
“It is vital that people check advice on council websites before traveling to ensure the beach is open and lifeguard provision is at normal levels
“The public must pay attention to the life-saving advice given about the use of beaches during this unprecedented time.”