After seeing people constantly breaking the lockdown rules, a shop owner in Tintagel, Cornwall has come up with a new policy that is being praised by locals.
Julie Harrison, who runs a Spar shop in Tintagel, Cornwall, said holidaymakers are still visiting her shop and not following the lockdown rules.
After a man visited Julie’s shop and told her that he drove from Kent to Cornwall to spend the day on the beach with his family and came to the shop to buy some postcards, she became fed up and decided to start a new ‘locals only’ policy amid coronavirus lockdown.
Julie is now serving only locals to protect people in Cornwall from catching the deadly virus as Cornwall has just a few coronavirus cases.
Julie said: “We’re still full of holidaymakers despite the lockdown. You’d like to think they wouldn’t come but still, they’re here.”
She has now put up a sign in the window that only locals will be served and customers will need to prove they are from the area.
62-year-old Frances Rumsey, who lives in the village, described Julie’s ‘locals only’ policy as ‘brave’ and ‘extraordinary’.
Rumsey said: “Tintagel is normally swarming with camper vans at this time of year and what the shop is saying is that they won’t serve you if you aren’t local.”
However, Rumsey believes it may be good for the community’s health but not for the economy as people won’t forget about it even after the lockdown ends.
But, Julie says locals have supported her new policy and it is for everyone’s good.
She said holidaymakers are coming from other cities despite the lockdown which increases the risk for people in Cornwall.
Julie said people are not taking the virus seriously even after thousands of deaths.
She said: “It’s been really well received. Everyone in the village is so supportive of us. People are dying, children are dying – people need to take this seriously and stay at home.”
[rumble video_id=v3kfgh domain_id=u7nb2]