A POLICE chief would ‘welcome’ the reopening of caravan parks and campsites in Cumbria to help relieve issues of lockdown-flouters in the Lakes.

Cumbria’s assistant chief constable Andy Slattery said he would welcome the phased reopening of self-catering and camping sites in a ‘Covid-safe manner’.

Currently, camping and caravan sites are scheduled to reopen from Saturday July 4 as the UK moves into the final phase of lockdown easing.

Constable Slattery said: “The restrictions around camping are still in place and I would ask those coming to the Lake District to plan ahead and understand that many facilities are still unavailable.

“As we begin to restart the local tourist economy I would welcome the phased reopening of self-catering and camping sites in a Covid-safe manner.”

Assistant Chief Constable Slattery hopes a phased re-opening of self-catered accommodation would relieve issues surrounding unauthorised camping.

He said: “Hopefully, this would relieve the issues that we have seen within the Lake District, around unauthorised camping, fires and littering .

“Without these facilities we have seen visitors camping anywhere they can, against the guidelines and without sanitary facilities.

“This is causing upset in local communities and leaves agencies and volunteers to clear up the mess left behind."

Gillian Varley, owner of Bardsea Leisure Park near Ulverston, said staff and caravan-users are ‘desperate’ to return to the park.

She said: “We’ve already had a number of bookings from July 4. People can’t wait to get back.

“We have put a number of safety measures in place - there’ll be social distancing in the shop, hand sanitiser all over the place, the toilet blocks will remain closed and there will be a limit on the number of children in the playpark.

“We’re following the guidelines to reopen as safely as possible. I expect the caravan park will be very popular when we reopen as people aren’t that keen or may be unable to travel abroad."