Swindon rises to the challenge on first weekend of coronavirus lockdown

There were no grumbles as shoppers queued for up to half an hour to get into supermarkets and buy groceries. Old Town’s Wood Street, typically abuzz with revellers, was empty and all but silent on Saturday night.

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland said the measures appealed “to that Great British spirit of common sense and our innate ability to queue”. But he urged people to keep on keeping their distance: “The effect of what we’re doing will only be seen in a few weeks’ time.”

His comments came as the UK’s deputy chief medical officer, former Swindon public health chief Dr Jenny Harries, warned it could be six months or more before lockdown Britain was back to normal.

Queues outside Asda Orbital on Saturday

Yesterday, Great Western Hospital confirmed that a further two patients who had tested positive for coronavirus had died. The 100-year-old woman and man, 50s, both had underlying health conditions. The female virus victim is the oldest person to have died from the virus at GWH.

Public Health England announced that a further eight people from Swindon had contracted coronavirus, bringing the total number to 26. It was the highest daily rise in the town since the pandemic began.

Police at Coate Water on Sunday

Nationally, there have been more than 19,552 confirmed cases. 1,228 who tested positive for the virus have died.

Across the town, there were signs that the government’s lockdown rules were being complied with.

It had taken shopper Lynsey Burt, 39, almost half an hour to get to the front of the queue outside Asda at the Orbital shopping centre on Saturday. She said: “I think it’s fine if it’s going to keep people safe.”

Another shopper, who gave his name as Tom, 26, said: “I think it’s necessary. They’re taking social distancing seriously. It can only be a good thing.”

The scene at Tesco, Ocotal Way, on Saturday

• On Saturday night, Wood Street was deserted with people setting up “virtual pubs” and chatting to their friends online. Richard Mason said: “I had a virtual pub going with friends in Swindon, Fuereventura and USA. Not quite the same as The Merlin but enjoyable anyway.”
• On Sunday morning, Royal Wootton Bassett police officers – usually the first to stamp on bad behaviour – said on social media that with the exception of a single driver “everyone seems to be listening to advice about not travelling to do daily exercise and dog walking”.

Mr Buckland praised those who had stayed at home. “It’s appealing to the great British spirit of common sense and our innate ability to queue. We’re better at queueing than any other part of the world.

“The effect of what we’re doing will only be seen in a few weeks’ times. The fact we’re now adapting to social distancing and staying at home, while we can’t see it now, means we will all have done our bit to save lives.”

The Bank on Wood Street, Old Town

But as ever there were exceptions to the rule.

• Police shut car parks at Coate Water on Saturday and Barbury Castle yesterday over concerns that too many people were congregating at the sites.
• While there is no direct government ban on people driving to countryside sites to exercise or walk the dog it is heavily discouraged in the official guidance. A Wiltshire Police poster taped to the chained gates at Barbury Castle said: “The government restrictions currently in place DO NOT permit you to use your vehicle to travel to this location to exercise. Each and every one of us has been instructed to avoid ALL UNNECESSARY TRAVEL.”
• Central Swindon North Parish Council said it would remove swings from its play areas in Moredon, Gorse Hill, Penhill and Pinehurst after reports of families using the play equipment at St Mark’s Rec and Mannington Park on Saturday. Parish clerk Andy Reeves said: “We’ll take the chains off all swings across 10 parks and store them until we re-open. We’ll also put fencing up in the most popular parks next week.”