Coronavirus: Call for NI park to be put in 'total lockdown'

The Department of Agriculture and National Trust has closed their parks and open spaces to prevent the spread of the virus.

Several people have contacted the Mid Ulster Mail asking for Polepatrick in Magherafelt to be closed immediately as they claimed footfall has increased dramatically and social distancing was not being observed.

One said: "Polepatrick needs total lockdown, not even side gate opened. Folks would park outside this vicinity thus create traffic obstructing. Obviously it could open for funerals. Unfortunately there maybe more if folks don’t wise up and take this social distancing seriously.

"Does the council have any plans to shut parks like Polepatrick in Magherafelt? The Department of Agriculture have announced closure of some parks with the Covid-19 outbreak."

A council spokesperson said: "Our parks remains open, in line with current government guidance around the opportunity for people to exercise.

"However, anyone using Polepatrick, Dungannon Park or any of our open spaces at this time, must follow social distancing and gathering advice for their own and others’ safety. To do otherwise is reckless and puts the opportunity for others to continue to visit these spaces at risk.

"Our staff continue to maintain the spaces with appropriate measures in place to protect them. As with all our services, access to our parks is being kept under constant review."