Student defends lockdown-breaking snowball fight on Woodhouse Moor in Leeds

A university student has defended a snowball fight in Leeds which saw hundreds of young people break England’s lockdown rules, saying it was “a laugh people needed”.
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The wintry gathering on Woodhouse Moor, also known as Hyde Park, on Thursday afternoon was organised on Facebook, but was widely criticised on social media amid concerns over coronavirus infections.

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Adam, a 20-year-old student who did not wish to give his second name, said students from various universities were involved and non-students also took part.

The huge snowball fight on Woodhouse Moor in Leeds (photo and video: Liam Ford).The huge snowball fight on Woodhouse Moor in Leeds (photo and video: Liam Ford).
The huge snowball fight on Woodhouse Moor in Leeds (photo and video: Liam Ford).

“I think a lot of people were just in the park anyway enjoying the snow and joined in,” he said.

“It was a very welcome relief… a welcome laugh that people needed.

“I know many students who are extremely depressed, and stressed with online exams and have had little support.

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“Mental health is equally as important as physical health… so many young people and students really have nothing to keep them going at this point.”

He added that he understood complaints about the gathering, but felt the risks of transmitting coronavirus had been low.

However, many condemned the display, noting that Leeds General Infirmary is just a short distance from the park.

“I know this is a students area but anyone can catch this virus and this seems pretty disrespectful to all the hard work going on (at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust),” tweeted @Ant8Johnson8.

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Lockdown rules in England say people can only leave home for a limited number of reasons, including exercise – but only with the same household, support bubble or one other person at a two-metre distance.

Liam said after taking the video yesterday: "I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

"There were two groups of around 100 people each side, stood apart, charging at each other and throwing snowballs.

"I was stood there for a good ten minutes and there times when it quietened down and then picked back up again.

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"It just shows a blatant disregard for the NHS and the strain it is under."

What do the Covid regulations say about exercise and travel and how do the national lockdown rules apply to sledging and exercising in the snow?

The rules issued by the government state:

You should minimise time spent outside your home, but you can leave your home to exercise. This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.

You can exercise in a public outdoor place:

by yourself

with the people you live with

with your support bubble (if you are legally permitted to form one)

in a childcare bubble where providing childcare

or, when on your own, with 1 person from another household

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This includes but is not limited to running, cycling, walking, and swimming. Personal training can continue if participants are from the same household or support bubble. It can also continue if it is one-one-one, although this should only take place in a public outdoor place, and not in someone’s private home or garden.

The rules do not list sledging as a form of exercise but, as long as you are sticking to the rules set out here - you are staying within your household or support bubble, you are with a maximum of one person from another household (at a social distance), and you have only travelled to a local area within short walking distance, then it would seem that sledging and building snowmen would be permitted in the rules.

Public outdoor places include:

parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, forests

public gardens (whether or not you pay to enter them)

the grounds of a heritage site

playgrounds

If you (or a person in your care) have a health condition that routinely requires you to leave home to maintain your health - including if that involves travel beyond your local area or exercising several times a day - then you can do so.

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When around other people, stay 2 metres apart from anyone not in your household - meaning the people you live with - or your support bubble. Where this is not possible, stay 1 metre apart with extra precautions (like wearing a face covering).

If you're tempted to throw a big sledging and snow party - well, police can still fine you.

The police can take action against you if you meet in larger groups. This includes breaking up illegal gatherings and issuing fines (fixed penalty notices).

You can be given a Fixed Penalty Notice of £200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of £6,400. If you hold, or are involved in holding, an illegal gathering of over 30 people, the police can issue fines of £10,000.

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