Rushden Lakes bosses urge shoppers to follow government guidelines amid claims Tier 4 residents are flocking there

It has been claimed that people are travelling from Tier 4 areas to shop at the retail and leisure development which is in Tier 2
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Rushden Lakes bosses are urging shoppers to follow government guidelines amid claims that people are travelling there from Tier 4 areas.

While Northamptonshire is in Tier 2 which means non-essential shops are open, it has been claimed that shoppers have been coming to the hugely popular Rushden site from neighbouring Tier 4 areas such as Milton Keynes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

If this is true, it goes against the Government guidelines which state: "If you live in a Tier 4 area, you must stay at home.

Rushden LakesRushden Lakes
Rushden Lakes

"You must not leave your home to travel unless for work, education or other legally permitted reasons.

"If you need to travel you should stay local - meaning avoiding travelling outside of your village, town or the part of a city where you live - and look to reduce the number of journeys you make overall.

"You must stay at home and not leave your Tier 4 area, other than for legally permitted reasons."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As reported by the Northants Telegraph on Monday following the last shopping weekend before Christmas, one shop worker said: "The car park was absolutely full and the shops were busier than I've seen them for ages.

"Some people I spoke to were openly boasting of having driven from Milton Keynes because the shops there were closed.

"It's not right - we don't want their Tier 4 infections spreading here."

People have also taken to social media to raise their concerns.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

One person wrote: "I live in Northamptonshire a very small town in Tier 2, over the past two days people from MK have been openly bragging about leaving Tier 4 and shopping at our outdoor Rushden Lakes - so selfish."

Another person said: "People of Milton Keynes will just rush to Northampton and Rushden Lakes for shopping.

"There’s no way of stopping this unless you lock down the whole country."

This person tweeted Northants Police about the issue, saying: "Seeing lots on social media about Tier 4 residents heading to Rushden Lakes. I think you need to monitor this."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Another said: "I live in Bedford tier . But I can bet there are Bedfordshire people going to Rushden Lakes shopping centre.

"Rushden in Tier 2 just over the border, literally a mile or less. I am staying put."

In light of the claims that people from Tier 4 are travelling to Rushden Lakes, this newspaper asked bosses about the situation.

A spokesman for Rushden Lakes told the Northants Telegraph: "The well-being and safety of all our visitors continues to be our priority and we have a comprehensive range of measures in place to support this.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We ask all our customers to observe these alongside following the latest government guidelines.”

Rushden Lakes is sharing this message on all its social media channels.

Message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive.

We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you