RESIDENTS in Andover are being urged keep "as close to home as practically possible" when out for their daily exercise.

The leader of Test Valley Borough Council said that he encouraged people to ensure they're exercising "safely and within the lockdown rules".

Hampshire Police are also encouraging people to stay in their "local area" for exercise.

Since the national lockdown came into force two weeks ago, there has been confusion as to what the government's advice of 'stay local' means.

This was especially the case after Derbyshire Police fined two residents who had both driven separately to a local beauty spot for a walk, saying that the cups of coffee they brought constituted a picnic. The fines were later rescinded.

The Advertiser has asked both Test Valley Borough Council and Hampshire Constabulary for their advice on how the borough's residents can exercise safely and within the guidance.

The police say 'stay local' means "stay in the village, town or part of the city where you live".

This means, for example, residents in Andover may not be able to drive to rural areas surrounding the town to get some fresh air and exercise.

The leader of Test Valley Borough Council, Cllr Phil North, said that people should use their "common sense".

He told The Advertiser: "As the infection rates have rocketed due to this new more transmissible Covid variant, I would encourage everyone to ensure they’re exercising safely and within the lockdown rules.

"While I appreciate that there is no specific distance within the guidance, keeping as close to home as practically possible is the best course of action to take, and we should all use our common sense.

“The easiest way out of the Covid-19 pandemic is to follow the guidelines and help protect our health services whilst the vaccine programme is being rolled out.”

But Hampshire Constabulary's Superintendent Phil Lamb admitted that the regulations allowing them to issue fines for people not abiding by regulations does not have a distance restriction for exercise.

He said: "The guidance strongly requests that people do not leave their local area. However, the Covid Regulations which officers enforce and which enables them to issue FPNs for breaches, do not restrict the distance travelled for exercise.

“Police officers will be inquisitive about why people are out of their homes and will continue to engage with the public, explain the regulations, and encourage people to comply.

"Where people are breaching the regulations and are away from home without a reasonable excuse, officers may take enforcement action and issue a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN). In situations where people are breaching the guidance not to travel out of their local area, but are not breaching regulations, officers will encourage people to follow the guidance.

“We all have a responsibility to follow both the regulations and the guidance in place to protect the NHS and save lives. As throughout the pandemic, we’ll engage proportionately, fairly, and using the well-established 4Es approach.

"We are confident that the majority of people will act responsibly, respecting the rules and guidance, and playing their part to keep communities safe.

"Those who do not follow the regulations in place to limit the spread of the virus should expect to receive a fine.”

The government guidance says that people "should minimise time spent outside your home, but can leave your home to exercise".

"This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area," it continues.

It advises you exercise either by yourself, with people you live with, with your support or childcare bubble if you are allowed one, or with one person from another household if you are on your own.

Exercise is one of a limited number of reasons you are allowed to leave your home during the lockdown.

Others include: shopping for essentials; going to work if you can't do so from home; meeting your support or childcare bubble, if you are allowed one; seeking medical assistance or avoiding injury, illness or risk of harm; and attending education for those eligible to do so (for example, children of key workers or those who have education health and care plans).