The withdrawal of over the top restrictions

[Skimpot flyer]

Not sure if this should have gone in the other thread (the most over the top restrictions introduced), but it might be good to list places where the application of common sense and a return to some normality has occurred.
Brighton station this morning is free of one-way systems! You can enter/exit the station by any route, and all the metal crush-barriers have gone!
This will likely lead to a more accurate picture of passenger numbers, as people will once again need to have a ticket to exit the platforms, via the gateline. (A feature of the one-way system was directing incoming passengers around the sides of the gateline, through huge Perspex doors intended, presumably, for emergency use only originally)

 

[Islineclear3_1]

My parent's town has had the one-way markings and barriers removed from one of the shopping precincts. People are free to move around at will

 

[Westcountryman]

Our local Homebase removed the long queuing system that essentially closed 40% of the car park, removed the barriers at the entrance made of stacked pallets and removed the person on the door controlling access. There is no issue with social distancing inside the store, but still screens to protect the staff.

The local tip was really over the top when it was allowed to reopen. Despite being in the open air they only allowed 5 cars on site at any time with barriers preventing cars being parked closer than about 4 metres to each other. There was a queuing system on the approach road with stop/go boards and you had to have a lecture on how to use the tip. All gone now (except that the tip has been closed for some reconstruction work.)

 

[Howardh]

My Morrisons had a snaking queue outside, including blasting music at you as you waited. Happily that's long gone, although I worry that Manchester's coming lockdown means it returns. Hopefully not!

 

[birchesgreen]

New St doesn't seem to have a one way system anymore, no one on the platforms barking at people not to use the central stairs when i was there last week anyway.

The Fort shopping park no longer has half the car park fenced off as holding pens for various shop queues (most of which were never used).

 

[pdeaves]

Swindon's Station Road briefly had the left-most of the two lanes barriered off as a 'socially distanced cycle lane'. Normality returned last week or the week before. As an aside, the system seemed to introduce more conflicts than it solved, no doubt an effect of rushing things through to be 'seen to be doing something' without thinking about them properly.

 

[Howardh]

Congratulations to that gym in Liverpool for defying the ban, and recieving far more in donations than the fine. We now have a reversal of government policy on gyms in lockdown areas - they stay open. Wonder if they will refund the fine??

 

[52290]

Congratulations to that gym in Liverpool for defying the ban, and recieving far more in donations than the fine. We now have a reversal of government policy on gyms in lockdown areas - they stay open. Wonder if they will refund the fine??

We only need to do the same for pubs.

 

[duncanp]

Congratulations to that gym in Liverpool for defying the ban, and recieving far more in donations than the fine. We now have a reversal of government policy on gyms in lockdown areas - they stay open. Wonder if they will refund the fine??

I really hope they get punchbag made up with a picture of Boris Johnson on, so that people could express their frustration at what the Prime Minister (for now, at least) has done to their city.

Even better, a Dominic Cummings punchbag. There would be a really long queue to use that one, I'm sure.

 

[MarlowDonkey]

but it might be good to list places where the application of common sense and a return to some normality has occurred.

Local Supermarkets with at least two doors have kept a one way system, but only for the doors. There's still a staff member from time to time policing the numbers allowed into the store. Once inside, it's possible again to freely circulate. A local High Street has also removed its pedestrian one way stickers which were mostly ignored anyway.

 

[Howardh]

We only need to do the same for pubs.

Wonderful idea, but unfortunately they would get to lose their licence, so it's a lose-lose. I've suggested my local just sells soft drinks and coffee etc, but charges corkage for anyone bringing in their own ale. Technically that's not against the regulations, they just can't SELL alcohol (without a meal); and neither is it if someone slips something stronger into a drink of coke.

 

[adc82140]

Big Tesco today. The trolley wiping charade has gone, replaced with a sign saying that staff clean the trolleys regularly, and that hand sanitiser should be used on entry and exit.

 

[yorkie]

This is very interesting.

Clearly this indicates the restrictions were done purely to be seen to be doing something and to look good; if they were done due to any actual need, they would not be disbanded at a time when infection rates are increasing!

This is evidence that they were pointless, and mandated by idiotic pen-pushers who need a strong dose of reality.

I see that at King's Cross, you can now get from mainline platforms to the LU station without getting rained on, but I want the entire one way system to be abolished.

At Leeds, there are now hardly any staff enforcing the one way system, which has resulted in passengers making more connections than previously. But again I want a complete end of the one way system.

I'm not actually sure if there are still obstacles at York, as I rarely use the affected entrance, and have been able to enter/leave unhindered throughout.

I wonder if Huddersfield's underpass has gone back to 'keep left' yet? That'll leave a lot of redundant sticky tape!

 

[kristiang85]

I wonder if Huddersfield's underpass has gone back to 'keep left' yet? That'll leave a lot of redundant sticky tape!

I really wish I'd bought shares in the main company that makes black and yellow tape before this year (and Netflix, Amazon and Zoom, of course).

 

[DustyBin]

This is very interesting.

Clearly this indicates the restrictions were done purely to be seen to be doing something and to look good; if they were done due to any actual need, they would not be disbanded at a time when infection rates are increasing!

This is evidence that they were pointless, and mandated by idiotic pen-pushers who need a strong dose of reality.

I see that at King's Cross, you can now get from mainline platforms to the LU station without getting rained on, but I want the entire one way system to be abolished.

At Leeds, there are now hardly any staff enforcing the one way system, which has resulted in passengers making more connections than previously. But again I want a complete end of the one way system.

I'm not actually sure if there are still obstacles at York, as I rarely use the affected entrance, and have been able to enter/leave unhindered throughout.

I wonder if Huddersfield's underpass has gone back to 'keep left' yet? That'll leave a lot of redundant sticky tape!

Your first point is a good one. I had to laugh when it was announced that the trade-off is the closure of soft play areas, what a total nonsense!

 

[DB]

I really wish I'd bought shares in the main company that makes black and yellow tape before this year (and Netflix, Amazon and Zoom, of course).

Don't forget perspex screen manufacturers!

 

[Crossover]

At Leeds, there are now hardly any staff enforcing the one way system, which has resulted in passengers making more connections than previously. But again I want a complete end of the one way system.

I'm not actually sure if there are still obstacles at York, as I rarely use the affected entrance, and have been able to enter/leave unhindered throughout.

The Leeds situation is a bit crazy. I have used the station a few times this last month and I feel a slight sense of anxiety with the amount of time it takes to get to some of the platforms. Though arguably the additional exercise will ave done me some good!

I was also in York around 3 weeks back - I can't say I noticed anything partocularly untoward (used the main entrnace, the NRM entrance and the Scarborough Bridge entrance within the same day) and nothing that put barriers (proverbial) up to using the station somewhat normally

 

[_toommm_]

The Leeds situation is a bit crazy. I have used the station a few times this last month and I feel a slight sense of anxiety with the amount of time it takes to get to some of the platforms. Though arguably the additional exercise will ave done me some good!

I was also in York around 3 weeks back - I can't say I noticed anything partocularly untoward (used the main entrnace, the NRM entrance and the Scarborough Bridge entrance within the same day) and nothing that put barriers (proverbial) up to using the station somewhat normally

Had a last minute platform change owing to the points failure at Neville Hill last week - very last minute - Platform 16 to 15. Myself and a few passengers were tried to be forced to have to go all the way down to Platform 8 and around the other smaller footbridge by the pointless yellow tabards. I think one passenger even did it.

 

[C J Snarzell]

Congratulations to that gym in Liverpool for defying the ban, and recieving far more in donations than the fine. We now have a reversal of government policy on gyms in lockdown areas - they stay open. Wonder if they will refund the fine??

Was that the one on the Wirral where they had about six firearm cops stood in front of the owner with their arms crossed? I thought that was completely ridiculous - as an ex-cop myself, I actually found it embarrassing.

CJ

 

[Crossover]

Had a last minute platform change owing to the points failure at Neville Hill last week - very last minute - Platform 16 to 15. Myself and a few passengers were tried to be forced to have to go all the way down to Platform 8 and around the other smaller footbridge by the pointless yellow tabards. I think one passenger even did it.

The thought of such a last minute platform alternation did cross my mind!

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Had a last minute platform change owing to the points failure at Neville Hill last week - very last minute - Platform 16 to 15. Myself and a few passengers were tried to be forced to have to go all the way down to Platform 8 and around the other smaller footbridge by the pointless yellow tabards. I think one passenger even did it.

I’m assuming from your post that you and the others ignored the one-way system? This is good. I certainly would not walk a long diversion route that could result in missing a connection and being stuck for nearly 30 minutes or more.
People need to realise that if enough people simultaneously defy a stupid instruction from someone who has no legal authority, there’s nothing they can do

 

[_toommm_]

I’m assuming from your post that you and the others ignored the one-way system? This is good. I certainly would not walk a long diversion route that could result in missing a connection and being stuck for nearly 30 minutes or more.
People need to realise that if enough people simultaneously defy a stupid instruction from someone who has no legal authority, there’s nothing they can do

Yeah, most of us defied the stupid restrictions.

 

[Crossover]

On my visit last weekend, the one way system at Leeds station was minutely less oppressive compared to my first foray some weeks ago. I didn’t see any one way signs plastered on the platform floors and the catering outlet and waiting room on the p11-15 island was fully open and all the stuff blocking the windows had been removed.

I had some vague hope that some sense may be coming to the bridges too, but sadly not and they were still one way. However, there weren’t too many ‘rent-a-thugs’ around so not sure how much enforcement there will be

 

[johntea]

Last week at Leeds there was a massive 'NO ENTRY' sign on Platform 6 which swiftly seems to have been removed!

The whole Platform 6 saga is perhaps the most ridiculous of the ridiculous at Leeds station, you walk straight through the main barriers onto your train right? Nope you get shouted at by someone in a yellow jacket to walk towards Platform 8 by the sides of the escalators and loop round to the lifts at the back to finally reach Platform 6...WHY?! Luckily they can't enforce any such nonsense for Platforms 1-5!

 

[Crossover]

Last week at Leeds there was a massive 'NO ENTRY' sign on Platform 6 which swiftly seems to have been removed!

The whole Platform 6 saga is perhaps the most ridiculous of the ridiculous at Leeds station, you walk straight through the main barriers onto your train right? Nope you get shouted at by someone in a yellow jacket to walk towards Platform 8 by the sides of the escalators and loop round to the lifts at the back to finally reach Platform 6...WHY?! Luckily they can't enforce any such nonsense for Platforms 1-5!

Yes - I experienced the platform 6 saga as well. In fact, I nearly went through the "red tape" until my other half pointed out we had to walk round the escalator!


EDIT: 09/11 01:20
Circumnavigated the Leeds one way system again today. The sooner they get rid of the one way system the better - the gateline to platform 17b is an utter sod via it, particularly when there is barely a soul around!

No Covid rent-a-thugs at all that I saw today