Heavy west-bound holiday traffic reported as ‘stay local’ restriction lifts in Wales

Heavy west-bound holiday traffic has been reported in the south of Wales as the ‘stay local’ restrictions lifted today.

Traffic Wales reported long tailbacks on the A48 which links the end of the M4 with Carmarthen.

They reported “heavy congestion due to holiday traffic” as self-accommodation tourism sites reopened in Wales.

Self-contained holiday accommodation includes hotels with en-suite facilities and room service, as well as caravans and holiday homes where facilities are not shared.

Guests staying at self-contained accommodation must be from the same household or support bubble.

The stay local rule has been lifted within Wales only and people from elsewhere in the UK are currently barred from holidays in Wales until April 12.

⚠️Congestion – #A48 Cross Hands Roundabout Westbound ⚠️

Heavy congestion due to holiday traffic.

Delays of around 9 minutes.⌚️#TrafficWalesAlerts pic.twitter.com/58fbo7KCIB

— Traffic Wales South #StayLocal (@TrafficWalesS) March 27, 2021

Social media users posted images of the backlog, with one Facebook poster calling it “the great escape”.

Today is the first time since new lockdown restrictions were imposed over three months ago, on 20 December, that people will be able to travel freely within Wales.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “These further relaxations are part of our careful and phased approach to unlocking the restrictions and enabling people and businesses to resume their activities in the safest possible way.

“We’re only able to do this because of the sacrifices everyone across Wales has made over the last few months – everything you are doing to keep your loved ones safe is also keeping Wales safe.

“The public health position remains stable; our incredible vaccination programme goes from strength to strength – we have headroom to make these changes.”