Forum Topic

“Lockdown” am I missing something?

I know we can go out for a walk. I know we can frequent shops to a degree but driving down parkside and through Wimbledon village today it was actually busier than I’ve ever seen it in “normal” times. They have what looks like a lovely Sunday farmers market there too but the stalls are quite close together and was in full throng. Ok I sound like I’m 90 but my husband and I were a bit shocked.

Maxine Campbell ● 1901d7 Comments

I'm very jealous of the farmers' market. I have started to have dreams of imaginary boot fairs, with stalls with a decent load of old books, or a charity shop with a good number of full bookshelves. Mind you, to be honest and fair, I have nowhere near cleared my existing backlog despite this period of opportunity. The overflow flood from the loft tank didn't help hardly a bit, either.

David Ainsworth ● 1901d

Noticed Sainsbury's Werter Rd, there have been queues again, but goes down quickly. Not a problem. Should be grateful for the food shops that have kept us in food, even if everything else is shut. I heard a few of Sainsbury's staff had had the virus before Christmas.

Barbara Stevens ● 1901d

I think part of it is the time of year. During the 1st lockdown we had good weather and were able to get out in the garden to relax or mend fences, sheds etc.so had no need to be seen out on the street.Secondly if folk are outside walking thats far far better than spreading in coffee shops or pubs.the figures seem to bear out that the lockdiwn is having an effect with 38000 new infections today out of over 600000 tests. Seems like infections are on the way down just need 2 or 3 weeks to filter through to the hospitals. Let's just hope they dont open things up too quickly this time.

Andy Pike ● 1901d

Thanks Maxine for clarifying that. Yes the pavements are very narrow. It is a lovely village. You do really notice the size of the population at weekends.Perhaps when we have the 4 day week it may spread things out a bit.

Ed Robinson ● 1901d

I appreciate that a walk on the common is out in the open air but even the streets on parkside were really busy and the market was a little too close for comfort. It highlights how small Wimbledon village is I guess. All the coffee shops and takeaway shops like Gails had really long queues with reasonable distancing but it was an eye opener.

Maxine Campbell ● 1901d

Maxine on the plus it was outside with plenty of ventilation. The stalls I assume are quite wide probably wider than the distance between some supermarket staff. Were people huddled together?I note also the Richmond MP was moaning about Richmond Park. People like the 2m rule it's something they can measure but they seem to completely forget about ventilation. It would be nice to see some photographic evidence of what the MP is referring to. I haven't been there recently and the MP's message is very vague.I won't mention the buses as there is unlikely to be any change.

Ed Robinson ● 1901d

No one is policing the lockdown. Its disgraceful.

Lucille Grant ● 1901d