A MEMBER of a Lake District mountain rescue team has offered his take on the question of whether or not people should be out on the national park's fells during lockdown.
Government guidance states that members of the public should 'stay in the village, town or part of the city' where they live.
The guidance for travel on the gov.uk website states the 'list of reasons you can leave your home and area' includes outdoor exercise.
However, below this heading, and perhaps confusingly, a bullet-pointed list states that exercise should be done locally 'wherever possible' and says you can travel a short distance 'within your area' to exercise if necessary - for example, to access an open space.
“People are clearly interpreting that in different ways, far be it for me to say whether they’re right or wrong,” said Nick Owen, team leader at Langdale/Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team (LAMRT), who lives at Elterwater.
“I’m staying off the high fells because, beautiful as they are, my own conscience and my own risk assessment doesn’t allow it."
Mr Owen said he did not want to risk injuring himself and placing additional strain on emergency services.
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