I assume that
@telstarbox has pointed us to the right regulations, and there is an updated version at
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/regulation/6, which ties in with what they seem to be saying on the radio and television, so I think is up to date. So I will assume that Regulation 6 is the relevant law, and all the law that we need to look at.
So by the letter of the above legislation, you're only allowed to leave home for a number of specified reasons. Maintaining another property is not one of those specified reasons. If you rent the Southport flat out from time to time, you could, I suppose, argue that regulation 6(2)(l)(v) applied but speaking as someone who is not a lawyer but whose day job does involve interpreting the law, this feels very much like applying the letter of the law rather than the spirit.
So by the letter of the law, you shouldn't make the trip. And given that Hereford - Southport passes through quite a lot of different police areas you might want to think about how those different police forces (and the different parts of the railway) might choose to interpret the law.
But the popular explanation is that you should only carry out 'essential' travel. So let's ignore the law, and think what that this might mean for you, and any authority figure that you might come across. You have told us that you want to go to Southport because
I wasn't in Southport since February. I could really do with a quick trip there just to empty the fridge (when I last left I was expecting to be back in a few days) and check the boiler isn't leaking etc.
I would suggest that emptying the fridge isn't essential. Everything will have spoiled by now, and won't get much nastier if it's left for some more weeks. I guess that you have already committed yourself to having to deeply clean the fridge, and you'll have to do that whether you go now or later.
As to the boiler, this is where you have better information than the rest of us. Is it prone to leaking? When did it last leak? And the same for the rest of the kit that you want to check. If there is a risk of damaging failure, and there is no one is Southport who can pop in for you, then to my mind this might count as 'essential'. But as you have pointed out, Southport is an awfully long way for a day trip from Hereford.
You might also want to consider Sefton Council's advice as reported by the Southport Champion at
https://www.champnews.com/story.asp?id=GN4_ART_1673523
DO NOT flock to beaches this weekend, is the message from council chiefs.
Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing Cllr Ian Moncur said: “I can fully understand that with the government easing the guidelines on when and where people can take daily exercise people want to be out and about.
“However, I would strongly urge people across our Borough and the North West to put their safety and the safety of others first and not head to our beaches where they could put each other, our local communities and Council staff at risk.”
Echoing yesterday’s call by local authorities across Merseyside for members of the public to remain vigilant Cllr Moncur continued: “With the data showing that Merseyside region which has a significantly higher death rate than England and the rest of the North West, it is important that people continue to stay home as much as possible and maintain the effort to reduce transmission of this still dangerous virus.
“I know our beaches are tempting but they are not able to cope with high level of visitors at the moment.
“The beach car parks at Ainsdale and Southport will not be open and generally parking will be very limited. Public toilets will remain closed to ensure social distancing and the safety of cleaning staff and bins are not in use so people would need to take their litter home with them. Additionally, there will be no Life Guard patrols taking place.
“I hope people will put their own and others’ safety first and visiting their own local parks and green spaces rather than travelling longer distances to potentially crowded locations.”
On balance, unless you are aware of an imminent risk to your Southport property that no-one else can deal with for you, I would suggest that your journey - whether by road or rail - is not essential. Please stay home, and hopefully you can be back in Southport sooner rather than later.