Outwoods and Charnwood Water car park re-open

Play areas remain closed.

The Outwoods in Loughborough have reopened to the public.

It’s following the introduction of new coronavirus guidance by the government.

The ancient woodland was closed in March as the government introduced social distancing including restricting travel to essential journeys. 

Charnwood Borough Council, which manages the Outwoods, working alongside the Outwoods Management Committee, was concerned that the Outwoods was attracting a high number of visitors.

Following the issuing of new guidance, the Council has announced the Outwoods will open today (Wednesday, May 13). The play area will remain closed. The public toilets will also remain closed.

Charnwood Water car park will also open today (Wednesday May 13).

Shelthorpe Golf Course will reopen on Friday 15th May. The public toilets at Charnwood Water and the golf course will remain closed.

Council-owned play areas and outdoor gyms across the borough remain closed.

Cllr Jenny Bokor, lead member for Loughborough, said: “As we have said throughout the crisis, the health and wellbeing of residents, our employees and partners is paramount and we are not prepared to risk that in any circumstances.

“Following the publication of new government guidance, we are starting to reopen some facilities including the Outwoods. We know people have missed them but public health has to come first and we have kept open Queen’s Park and Southfields Park in Loughborough and there have been other open spaces for people to use.

“We have added signage in the Outwoods and other open spaces to remind people of the need to follow the social distancing rules. Please stay two metres apart at all times.

“We will also have a staffing presence in most places.

“If we find people are not following the social distancing rules we will have no hesitation to close the facilities again. Public health is our paramount concern and the battle to defeat coronavirus is far from over. We all have a duty to follow the rules and act sensibly as it can literally save lives. It’s that simple.”

Parking will be free at the Outwoods and Charnwood Water for the time being.