The mayor of an upmarket coastal town dubbed ‘Chelsea-on-Sea’ has urged visitors to ‘show a bit of respect’ and follow social distancing rules after the normal population surged by 1,000 per cent amid a staycation boom.
Thousands of tourists and second home owners flocked back to Salcombe in Devon from the moment the green light was given by the Government for people to go on holidays at the start of last month.
But town mayor Nikki Turnton said tourists seem to ‘think they are in a bubble’ and do not have to maintain social distancing with signs being ignored by a ‘minority who don’t think it counts because they are on holiday’.
She told the BBC: ‘It’s like August bank holiday weekend every day, everybody is exhausted and overwhelmed. The businesses need the customers but we would just like a bit of respect back for the town that they claim to love.’
Salcombe has a population of about 2,000 in the winter but this risen to about 25,000 after the lockdown ended on July 4, according to the council, which is causing problems for people trying to socially distance in the town.
Tourists flock to the seaside town of Salcombe in Devon yesterday which has previously been dubbed ‘Chelsea-on-Sea’
Tourists walk through the narrow streets of the Devon seaside town of Salcombe yesterday which has become very busy
Tourists walk through Salcombe in Devon yesterday, where the town mayor has urged tourists to show ‘a bit of respect’
Salcombe, pictured yesterday, has become overrun with tourists as fears rise of local lockdowns in staycation hotspots
A full car park at Salcombe is pictured yesterday as people continue to descend on the Devon town for a staycation
Tourists enjoy a trip out on a boat while visiting the seaside town of Salcombe yesterday which has been busy with tourists
With less foreign holidays taking place amid concern over Covid-19 restrictions, locals and business owners say the town, which is often known as a playground for rich Londoners, is heaving and busier than ever before.
And a series of striking photographs show how the social distancing has become difficult in the bustling town.
They include scenes on the narrow shopping streets and the picturesque harbour which are now packed with sun-seekers. The town council say the huge influx has also led to an increase in anti-social behaviour.
The spike in numbers has now raised fears of a ‘local lockdown’ similar to the one experienced in Leicester.
Roger Lidstone, of Bowers Wines and Spirits in Salcombe, said: ‘Things have picked up a lot since the beginning of July. It has been busier than usual in July, which is not surprising as it is the first month since lockdown.
‘People want to get away. It is a difficult balancing act as Salcombe as a town needs the tourists, but it has caused problems, especially in the evenings with people drinking too much.
‘Social distancing in the streets is tricky and I don’t think it has been observed thoroughly. Without the tourists we wouldn’t survive though. It was extremely quiet but now it has gone totally the other way.
‘They came back as soon as the lockdown was relaxed. We have a lot of second home owners who hadn’t been able to get to them, so they all came down. You cannot blame them, but who knows if it will lead to a local lockdown?
‘We have had very few cases in Devon compared to the rest of the UK, but with so many people around now, it could happen. Whatever happens, we will act accordingly.’
Anita Tildesley, who works for Salcombe Trading Company, said: ‘It’s much busier now and with a lot less people going abroad it seems a lot more people are visiting Devon.
‘I am happy to have some normality and be back open for business. I think if there has to be a local lockdown there will be. Time will tell. It is a legitimate concern that some have.
‘But it is a difficult balancing act, about welcoming tourists back but ensuring things don’t get any worse for those who live here.’
Salcombe town councillors say the influx in visitors has caused some issues, especially with people drinking. One, Caroline Bricknell, said: ‘It’s extremely busy, unfortunately some people are ruining it for everyone else.
‘All holiday makers get tarred with the same brush which isn’t fair, some of the people who come here are great but what the others are doing is causing bad feelings in the town with local people.
Thousands of tourists and second home owners have flocked back to Salcombe, pictured yesterday, since July 4
The town in Devon, pictured yesterday, has been overrun with tourists since lodkwon restrictions were eased
Tourists enjoy the sunshine in the town of Salcombe yesterday which has became a staycation hotspot in recent weeks
People sit outside in Salcombe yesterday as daytrippers and tourists enjoy the sunshine in the Devon town
The local mayor said the town of Salcombe, pictured yesterday, is like ‘August bank holiday weekend every day’
Salcombe has a population of about 2,000 in the winter but this risen to about 25,000 after the lockdown ended
A signs calls for social distancing at the seaside town of Salcombe yesterday which has been overrun with tourists
People look at at the water in the seaside town of Salcombe yesterday where huge numbers of tourists are visiting
People sit outside in the sunshine to enjoy a drink as tourists flock to the seaside town of Salcombe yesterday
‘There have been problems, we were in our boat the other day and there were about 15 people in another boat and they were throwing bottles in the water and playing loud music.
‘It’s those that are running it unfortunately for our lovely holiday makers. It seems to be more problematic this year, I think because they can’t go to Spain or Ibiza or anything else.
‘This week would have been regatta week and that’s a huge event in Salcombe, that would have made us up to about 25k people but it’s cancelled, and will be even busier in town because people book from year to year.
‘It’s hard to get a booking for regatta week, people will come down to stay in the places they booked – they’ve been coming for years, it’s a big thing in Salcombe.
‘We’ll have them and everyone else unfortunately. It’s just something we have to sort out.’