Coronavirus: Packed buses and plenty of golf – this is what England’s eased lockdown looked like

Buses were packed and members of the public enjoyed play golf and tennis as lockdown measures were relaxed on Wednesday.

Birmingham City Council is cutting two metre strips into grass in its 591 parks and open spaces to help visitors adhere to the government’s social distancing guidance.

More people were seen out and about after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday that people should go to work if they were not able to carry out their role from home.

Employers were told to protect their workers as much as possible.

Those going back to work after nearly two months were told to avoid public transport, but for many that wasn’t possible.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan urged all passengers to use face coverings as many found it difficult to stay two metres away from each other.

Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, told Sky News it is “not a policing role” to enforce two-social metre social distancing.

He added it comes down to “individual responsibility”.

Footage showed the platforms at West Ham station packed with commuters this morning, with little space for people to adhere to two-metre social distancing advice.

A Twitter user named only as Drew tweeted that his bus in Hoxton, east London, was packed just after 7am.

He wrote: “Here’s my usual 55 bus (I’m walking) absolutely rammed full of people.

“So, thanks, Boris?”

Julia Kate Rayworth, another Twitter user, wrote that she felt like she was on a “COVID party bus” in Blackpool.

She continued: “Downstairs is packed, no distancing being put in place. I work at the hospital and the past two days I’ve never felt so unsafe!”

However Sky field producer Jim Old tweeted images of quiet stations at Euston and Richmond.

He wrote: “And that’s my journey thru (sic) rush hour London on ‘back to work Wednesday’. I know others had different experiences this morning but what I saw was less like rush hour and more like ten at night on a wet Wednesday in February.”

A Tube driver told Sky News the network is “slightly busier than yesterday” when some trains were at capacity despite the original lockdown measures still being in place.

He added: “Worrying thing for me, is that hardly anyone is wearing face masks or coverings.”

Transport for Greater Manchester tweeted that bike journeys have increased by 42% in the city as people were told to avoid public transport.

Tyneside wind industry workers were back in the office, but with employees’ desk far enough apart to be in keeping with social distancing guidance.

Queues were seen outside garden centres in Horsham, West Sussex, and Woburn Sands in Milton Keynes, as more businesses were open on Wednesday.

Golfers were also seen getting back into the swing of things as the relaxation of lockdown measures allowed people to play some sports.

However, it appears many clubs have experienced a rush in bookings, with many players unable to get a tee time this week.

Horse riding, fishing, tennis and deer stalking are also now allowed.

Fisherman were seen relaxing around Castle Ashby lakes in Northampton thanks to easing of the lockdown measures.

While tennis coach Phil Spencer was seen teaching a nine-year-old club member at the Bowdon Lawn Tennis Club in Altrincham, Greater Manchester.

In a last-minute change of guidance the Department for Education said last night that childminders would be allowed to look after children from a single household from Wednesday.

Multiple children from a single household will be able to have a childminder, if they are not already providing care for vulnerable children and children of critical workers.

Estate agents were also back open today, with the property industry having taken a big hit over the past seven weeks of lockdown.

The government said show homes can also open while removal companies – along with other essential market components – may also fully resume work.

It is estimated that more than 450,000 buyers and renters have been unable to progress their plans to move home since March.

(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: Packed buses and plenty of golf – this is what England’s eased lockdown looked like