TOURISM bosses have hit out at the government over the relaxation of lockdown measures, fearing it will open the floodgates to visitors and put residents at risk.

Community leaders have called on people to stay away, but the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority said it will be reopening car parks and toilets. Chief Executive David Butterworth called on visitors to respect the land, the communities and each other.

But Wensleydale councillor Jill McMullen protested, saying: “We are just not ready for this.”

Scarborough councillor Derek Bastiman added: “The worrying thing is people will think they can jump in their cars and head to the coast, but please stay away you won’t be welcome.

"Let’s protect those that are left and act responsibly.

“We have done this for weeks, let’s just do it a bit longer, then we will welcome people back, but this is not the time to come to our beautiful seaside resorts."

While they are desperate to kickstart the tourism economy, which is worth £9bn to the region, they fear the government’s relaxation, allowing people to take unlimited exercise and to drive to different areas, will be seen as a green light for the flooding of beauty spots.

Councillor McMullen added: “Everyone is talking about it and the reaction here is disbelief. There was no clear message and we think people will think it is a carte blanche to come into the countryside. We are all nervous about it.”

Mr Butterworth said the authority has been in discussions with Defra since April about re-opening the countryside, and had called for a staged approach with an initial stay local message.

He added: “However, that has not prevailed and, as a public body, we are still expected to deliver the Government’s message.

"We will therefore be opening the authority-run car parks from today and strive to open toilets as soon as possible; they will be deep cleaned and have new regimes implemented.

"By making this decision we’re seeking to mitigate the parking by visitors in village centres and on verges.”

In neighbouring Cumbria, police and public officials have repeated a “stay away” message for the county, which has one of the highest infection rates.

Assistant chief constable of Cumbria Police Andrew Slattery said: “What we are saying is, please don’t visit the Lake District yet. The Lake District is not yet ready to receive a large number of visitors, the tourism industry is largely closed down, there are no pubs open, restaurants open, public toilets open.

“This is not just the police saying this, this is the National Parks Authority, Cumbria Tourism are saying this, ‘Please stay away.’

“We have people living in small towns and rural communities who are really afraid.

“We were expecting small, incremental changes to the lockdown this week. Unfortunately one measure he (Boris Johnson) announced will have a significant effect for Cumbria and other similar areas.

“He talked about the ability to drive out to different areas. That seems innocuous, but if people turn up in large numbers, that will have a real impact on local communities suffering some of the highest infection rates.”