The mayor of Enfield has been accused of flouting lockdown rules after he went on a bike ride with two fellow councillors.
Cllr Sabri Ozaydin faced an angry backlash after photos of the bike trip were posted on the mayor’s Twitter account with a caption saying the councillors were “getting their daily exercise”.
The mayor, who was wearing his chain of office, was also caught on camera with a group of other cyclists outside a shop.
Government Covid-19 lockdown rules state that exercise is currently only allowed with one person from another household.
In the video clip, posted to social media, a passer-by can be heard asking what the mayor is doing “out with a group of people”. Cllr Ozaydin replies: “We are just cycling”.
The passer-by says: “You are not allowed to – we are in a lockdown”. The mayor later claims the group is “testing the roads”.
“But what you are doing is breaking the law,” the passer-by says. “A group of individuals all meeting up outside a coffee shop, going for a bike ride. It’s not on. You should be leading the way, not breaking the law.”
One of the other cyclists then claims: “We are actually attempting to find out what is wrong with the cycle lanes.”
The passer-by replies: “In lockdown. Do you all live together? You’ve all come from separate households.”
Photos of the bike ride were posted on the mayor’s Twitter page on Sunday with the caption: “Mayor of Enfield Cllr Sabri Ozaydin, Cllr Ahmet Hasan, Cllr Mustafa Cetinkaya are out cycling getting their daily exercise.”
Mayor of Enfield
— Mayor of Enfield (@MayorofEnfield) February 28, 2021
Cllr Sabri Ozaydin
Cllr Ahmet Hasan
Cllr Mustafa Cetinkaya
are out cycling getting their daily exercise. pic.twitter.com/H3MzRJlHa2
Twitter user Mary replied: “Disgraceful flouting of the lockdown rules. Perhaps because you are The Mayor you think you are above the law.”
Disgraceful flouting of the lockdown rules. Perhaps because you are The Mayor you think you are above the law. BTW wearing a Mayoral chain on a bike ride is completely ridiculous!! Let’s wait for the condemnation from the leader of Enfield Council shall we ??!!
— 🌹🌹Mary 💙 (@LondonnurseT) February 28, 2021
Another Twitter user, Steve, added: “What did one say. We are checking the cycle lanes. You’d think they would come up with a better excuse. And wearing his chains. Beyond belief.”
What did one say. We are checking the cycle lanes. You’d think they would come up with a better excuse. And wearing his chains. Beyond belief
— Steve (@telesyros) February 28, 2021
Others supported the mayor. Mary Mooney tweeted: “Glad to (see) some sensible councillors taking advantage of the sun and cycling. Ignore the nay-sayers.”
@MayorofEnfield Glad to some sensible councillors taking advantage of the sun and cycling. Ignore the nay-sayers.
— Mary Mooney (@MaryCleary) March 1, 2021
Government lockdown rules 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.”
The rules say exercise in a public outdoor place is allowed “with the people you live with”, with support bubbles and childcare bubbles, “or, when on your own, with one person from another household”.
You are also allowed to leave your home to work, “where you cannot reasonably work from home”, the rules state.
Cllr Ozaydin was sworn in as mayor in July last year. He became a councillor for Turkey Street in 2018.
Cllr Ozaydin and Enfield Council have been approached for comment.
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