Plaid Cymru accuses Welsh Gov of not giving businesses ‘sufficient warning’ ahead of re-opening

Plaid Cymru has accused the Welsh Government of not giving businesses “sufficient warning” ahead of the re-opening out of lockdown.

The party’s leader, Adam Price, also said that those that aren’t allowed to open on Monday have been given “false hope”, in response to the announcement today from Welsh Government on lockdown easing.

The First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced that hairdressers and barbers will re-open for appointments from Monday.

From 22 March non-essential retail will start re-opening gradually as the restrictions are lifted on what can be sold in shops which are currently open.

Garden centres will also be able to open. All shops, including all close contact services, will be able to open from 12 April – the same date as in England.

Tourism will begin to re-open on 27 March – with self-accommodation opening its doors for people within Wales.

The Plaid Cymru leader added that there should be “some limited extended freedoms for families to come together” before tourism re-opens.

He added that there should be a “Wales wide consultation with the tourism sector” to establish whether it is viable for them to open to Welsh domiciled customers only over Easter and that case rates remained “stubbornly high” in many areas “attractive to tourists”.

Price said that whilst “we all want the rules to be relaxed” this should be “the last lockdown, and to avoid another wave and further deaths in a few months.

‘Avoid another wave’ 

He said: “We all want the rules to be relaxed but what we want even more is for this to be the last lockdown, and to avoid another wave and further deaths in a few months.

“The Welsh Government has not given those businesses allowed to open on Monday sufficient warning whilst giving false hope to those not allowed to open.

“We now need a Wales wide consultation with the tourism sector to establish whether it is viable for them to open to Welsh domiciled customers only over Easter.

“Case rates remain stubbornly high in many areas attractive to tourists and we must remember the huge pressures already facing local hospitals.

“After the sacrifices of the past year we should be putting families first and granting some limited extended freedoms for families to come together before tourism re-opens.

“With people’s wellbeing suffering during the pandemic allowing gyms to open would be welcomed by many, providing that they can do so safely.

“Clear and consistent communication from Ministers is essential to ensure adherence to the rules. If we all play our part, we look forward to greater freedoms when case rates allow.”

The First Minister will say at a press conference later on today: “We are taking a phased approach to unlocking each sector – starting with schools. We will make step-by-step changes each week to gradually restore freedoms. We will monitor each change we make, so we know what impact each change has had on Wales’ public health situation.”