Dorset lockdown moments we don't want repeated

Well, we're back there again - kind of.

This second lockdown is allowing us to do quite a lot more than the first. We can travel to exercise, we can have cleaners and tradespeople in our homes so decorating and DIY can be completed and we can meet one person from another household outside with social distancing.

But back in March and April things were different and there was some shocking human behaviour and circumstances.

These are the things we DON'T want to see a repeat of this time around

1. Beauty spots ‘overrun’ with visitors getting their exercise

During the first lockdown people were told not to drive to get their exercise. But many did, flocking to Dorset beauty spots against government advice.

For instance, residents in Throop hit out after the Throop Village Conservation group closed the Throop Mill car park which prompted visitors to use the adjacent roads to park and get their daily exercise.

• Read more: Throop "overrun" with visitors exercising

And in the New Forest car parks were closed when park bosses became concerned that thousands of people gathering at beauty spots could compromise the fight against coronavirus.​

2. People spitting on others and saying they have coronavirus

This was one of the most despicable things we heard about during lockdown. While most of the country was pulling together to ease the pressure on the NHS and protect the vulnerable, we had to report instances of this happening.

In one of the appeals issued by police, a boy allegedly spat on a woman and her seven-year-old son as they took their daily exercise in Verwood.

Also in Verwood, youths coughed over supermarket shoppers and told them they would give them the coronavirus.

Police were forced to use section 35 dispersal powers to move the group away from Morrisons in Verwood back in March.

3. Flouting rules about gathering in public

We may be more used to people flouting the rules of the 'new normal' now, but when the pandemic took full effect in this country, it was particularly galling to see people deliberately disobeying clear advice.

Easter was the first real test - especially with the gorgeous weather - and sadly people did disappoint.

• PICTURED: Men have BBQ near Bournemouth clifftop during lockdown 

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Since then we have had cases of students holding parties in shared houses despite rising cases in the area and police being granted special powers after "selfish morons" flouted new coronavirus restrictions in a New Forest town.

In one of several incidents a man was assaulted by a group of people who punched him to the ground, resulting in the casualty receiving several facial injuries.

Elsewhere people in New Milton Conservative Club say they were warned about a "fracas" outside.

4. Care workers appealing for PPE

One of the most terrible parts of the pandemic was knowing key workers needed vital PPE.

But you as a community stepped up. From schools, to businesses, to universities to charities. Here's just a couple of amazing examples.

Four schools in Poole were among many who donated their resources to make protective equipment to charity PramaCare.

The charity, whose care support workers continue to work tirelessly on the frontline to support older people in the community, profited from 150 protective face shields from Poole Grammar, St Aldhelms Academy, Poole High and Corfe Hill.

Read more: care workers profit from PPE from secondary schools

And of course, one of the most high profile instances was the gin producer Conker Spirit turning wasted alcohol into hand sanitiser to be used by care workers and struggling hospitality businesses.

Founder Rupert Holloway said: “As spirits are produced, there’s always the first part of the spirit that comes over the still which doesn’t go into the bottle.

“It’s the most volatile part of the alcohol. For a long time, we’ve been keeping that and not really had a use for it.”

Until this year. 

5. Roads closed by police due to demand

One of the worst things over the summer was witnessing everyone flocking to the area and ignoring the pleas of locals to think twice. 

People living in and around Lulworth took the brunt of it, and in August police were once again forced to close the roads due to the sheer volume of traffic.

It wasn't the first time this year it had happened either. And while obviously it is colder now and days shorter, it would be great if everyone could adopt a common sense approach.