The iconic Camber Sands on the weekend of Mothering Sunday, March 22, were awash with cars, walkers, dogs and a few horses and it was feared that with the fine weather expected last weekend, April 4 and 5, that the hordes would descend again – even though the guidance from the government was to stay at home.
Villagers were very concerned, as not only were all restaurants, bars and pubs closed, but now the car parks and the toilets were locked as well. The great fear was that, as can happen at the height of summer when Camber village is on overload, that cars would park haphazardly, with their loads disgorged, to go on to the beach.
Villagers know that these visitors can cause great anger and hostility by their behaviour to the people of Camber and the toilets being locked was a possible huge problem.
It was with relief then that visitors did not descend in great numbers, though there were a few, the new government guidance being that folk should not drive to exercise themselves, their children or their dogs. This was contravened – with one car parked right up against the closed car park sign, as if in defiance. Slight abuse followed when this was pointed out, but nothing too irritating.
Home made signs had been placed at each entrance to the village, both to the east and to the west. Crude, and with their message in red paint, I feel that those signs may have helped too and I applaud them as it would take a huge amount of red tape for the council to produce something of a similar nature.
I hope, though, that lessons will have been learnt about the application of warnings and perhaps some measure of protection will be applied to Camber village during the summer season.
The calm and quiet is continuing with the only noise being on a Thursday evening when the din made by clapping and the banging of pots and pans signifies the praise for the NHS and all key workers in these unprecedented times.
Image Credits: Carol Macdonald .