Even less time spent in Calderdale's parks as lockdown continued

Residents in Calderdale were heading to parks even less as the mandatory lockdown continued, figures from Google suggest.
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The tech giant's latest weekly report shows people across the UK ventured out to parks, beaches and other public areas less last week – with footfall remaining significantly below normal levels.

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Google uses location data from phones and other personal devices to track trends in people's movement in the home, retail and recreation establishments, grocery stores and pharmacies, public transport hubs, workplaces, and parks and green spaces.

Make sure to continue social distancing.Make sure to continue social distancing.
Make sure to continue social distancing.
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The weekly report shows a decrease in activity within parks in Calderdale and across West Yorkshire during the week to May 2, compared to the week before – suggesting people are hanging out in public green spaces less regularly, or for shorter periods of time.

Over the seven days, time spent in parks was 7 per cent lower than during a five-week baseline period at the start of the year.

The week before, it had been 12 per cent higher than usual levels.

In the first report, which covered the week to March 29 when the lockdown came into effect, park activity was down 16 per cent.

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The data suggests that the population in West Yorkshire are staying away from green spaces less successfully than in other locations across the UK. Nationally, people were spending 22 per cent less time than usual in parks last week.

New message from Government

This week, the Government relaxed its advice to people to stay at home, changing its messaging to "stay alert, control the virus, save lives" – though Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have kept the original, stronger messaging.

Health experts have expressed concern that the new slogan lacks clarity and may lead to an increase in "risky behaviour" from the public.

People unable to work from home – such as those in construction and manufacturing – will be "actively encouraged to go to work", though use of public transport should still be limited.

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People will also be allowed to spend more time outdoors for leisure purposes, as long as they are socially distanced from others.

It comes more than seven weeks after the Prime Minister imposed the lockdown on March 23, telling people to stay home and only leave for “very limited” and essential purposes.

These included shopping for basic necessities, once-a-day exercise, medical needs and travelling to work, but only when it could not be done from home.

In other locations in West Yorkshire:

o Visits to public transport hubs were 66 per cent down on usual levels

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o Shopping centres and food outlets saw 72 per cent less traffic than normal

o Workplaces were 59 per cent quieter than usual

o Food shops and pharmacies saw 28 per cent less traffic

o People spent 23 per cent more time at home than usual