Written by Matthew Davies
https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/concerned-conwy-resident-launches-keep-left-campaign/As lockdown restrictions begin to ease around the country, UK residents have been attempting to return to normality, visiting loved ones, using non-essential businesses and resuming their usual routines amidst a new socially-distanced Britain.
However, many have been failing to adhere to the 2 metre distance rule, with some individuals choosing to ignore the government restrictions as they go about their daily lives.
This phenomenon has been noticed by 60-year-old Mark Hawksworth, from Conwy in North Wales, who felt concerned after going for a walk along the sea front near Rhos-On-Sea where he witnessed members of the public occupying both sides of the pathways and not abiding to any form of social distancing.
Mark, who has type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, was forced to evade these post-lockdown revellers and was left feeling disconcerted by the experience.
Rather than complain, Mark has acknowledged the difficulties that this new system presents to the public and has proposed an intelligent solution.
In an attempt to offer local government bodies with a practical method of addressing his concerns, Mark has launched a 'Keep Left' campaign, suggesting that a simple adherence to keeping left while out in public could potentially solve a lot of these issues.
Mark said: "We had people on both sides of the path, families taking up the whole path, dogs going in all directions and people generally not keeping any distance.
"While watching the elderly and clinically vulnerable people, you could see the panic in their faces. It is going to get a lot worse with all the tourists coming back and anything to help reduce any more spikes is worth a try. A lot of the pathways are quite narrow so a social distance of even 3 feet is awkward. A polite 'Please Keep Left' should not upset anybody".
Mark hopes that the 'Keep Left' campaign will find traction with UK residents, as well as any government organisers that can help ensure that it is implemented nationwide.
Mark came up with the idea after remembering his last holiday in Spain where local citizens adhere to the left side of sea front pathways.
Mark said: "This would apply to push bikes and scooters as well. As we are a nation of left hand drivers, I believe a simple keep left message could become the new norm to help in distancing".
"We already drive on the left and cycle paths are marked to keep left, so it is already built into us to go left. We just need reminding occasionally and on very busy walkways. Simple signs saying 'Please Keep Left' could help".
