SKIPTON MP Julian Smith has sent out a strong message to those tempted to ignore Government advice and make unnecessary journeys during this weekend's Easter Bank Holiday.

Mr Smith, who says he has received more calls for help than at any other time during the current coronavirus crisis, has also sought to reassure businesses hit by the pandemic that help is readily available to them.

"Businesses are still not understanding all the schemes available to them and I would urge them to talk to their banks and go to the Government website where they will see what support is available to them," he said.

He is urging business owners and the self-employed to go online at: https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support where they can access a full range of support measures, when the schemes open and how to apply. They include a coronavirus business interruption scheme, a job retention scheme, and a self employment income support scheme. There is also information on getting a business rates holiday for those in retail, hospitality and leisure, and also on cash grants.

He is also urging people to go to https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus where they can also access employment and financial support as well as updated advice on what the Government says people can or cannot do, such as going out of the house for exercise, whether they can go to the local park and whether it is acceptable to leave the house to care for a horse, or walk the dog.

Nurses, doctors and others in the NHS have contacted him expressing their concerns about people going outside necessarily and risking both themselves and others and putting additional strain on the health and emergency services.

"I've spoken to people on the frontline, nurses and doctors, who are worried about parts of North Yorkshire where people are not being responsible. People need to follow the advice and stay at home," he said.

The clear message from the Government to slow the spread of the coronavirus is to stay at home in order to protect the NHS and save lives - if you leave the house for your daily exercise you should only go for walks from your own doorstep.

"It is really important that people follow the advice. Going outside is for exercise, it is not an excuse to meet up with friends," said Mr Smith.

David Butterworth, Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority said people should not make unnecessary trips to the Dales, whether they were local or not, and added park rangers and police would be making sure people followed Government advice this weekend.

“Don’t be the person that thinks ‘I’ll pop to the Dales because it’ll be quiet’. Don’t be the person that thinks, ‘it’s Easter, we can stay at the holiday house’. And don’t be the person that thinks it’ll be fine to come cycling with friends.

"We heard all these excuses last weekend and it’s simply unacceptable. People should not make unnecessary trips to, or around the national park, whether visitor or local," he said.

"Our Ranger Service will be out again this weekend supporting North Yorkshire and Cumbria Police to ensure people to heed this advice”.

Pendle Council is also urging people to behave responsibly when taking their daily exercise.

Its countryside access officer, Tom Partridge, said lots of residents in Pendle have rights of way passing very close to where they live and are seeing a marked increase in passers-by.

“Please consider their need for social distancing and be aware that some of these people may be in self-isolation because of illness or other vulnerabilities," he said.

He said people also need to be careful when crossing farmland.

“Quite apart from the risk of coronavirus infection, farmers need their fields to be safe, particularly at this time of year with lambing, so it’s important people keep to the footpath.

“Some footpaths are not clearly defined - make sure you know where the footpath goes before setting off across fields. And stay on the public right of way when walking across farmland and any other private land.”

As a reminder, people should only go outside alone or with members of their own household, and to keep at least two metres apart from anyone outside their household. Leaving the house is only acceptable for one of four reasons:

Shopping for basic necessities, for example, food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible.

One form of exercise a day, for example, a run, walk, or cycle – alone or with members of your household.

Any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.

Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.

Mr Butterworth added: “We are conscious of the need - while everyone is staying home - to bring some of the outdoors, indoors. So we’ve created some great online content to help families connect with nature while they’re at home. There are links to a number of bird and butterfly surveys, the chance to hear the iconic call of Curlew, tips for experiencing our magical dark sky and a daily ‘window’ into the Dales on our social media channels”.

“The Yorkshire Dales will still be here when this is all this over, so stay home, enjoy a taste of the outdoors, indoors and have a good Easter weekend”.

To enjoy the Dales remotely, visit: https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/be-inspired/blog/