Police Crime Commissioner: Lockdowns needed to avoid coronavirus ‘holidays’ in Wales
Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn has called for a more stringent “lockdown” to be introduced to stop the huge increase in tourists to mainly rural areas.
The Police Commissioner who represents Plaid Cymru has called for people travelling to a non-primary residence to be stopped from doing so.
Snowdonia rescue service, local GPs, hospitals and local authorities have also raised concerns after parts of Snowdonia faced their busiest ever weekend.
This morning England’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the UK Government would “do what it takes” to stop people socialising despite warnings.
However so far the Welsh and UK Governments have so far taken no action to stop the flow of tourists and second home and caravan owners, apart from repeating calls that they stay home.
“The guidance is clear – no one should be undertaking non-essential travel. That includes taking a trip to rural Wales,” Dyfed Powys PCC Dafydd Llewelyn said.
“We must now introduce a series of ‘lockdowns’ to ensure people travelling to a non-primary residence should be stopped and those currently in non-primary residences should return home.
“No community is going to be immune from this pandemic. People cannot out-run it and people certainly can’t hide from it in holiday spots.
“All you will be doing by heading to these areas is putting your life and the lives of others at risk by overstretching local services.
“This isn’t a national holiday, it is a national emergency. If people don’t start acting responsibly hundreds, possibly thousands, of people will die unnecessarily.”
‘Irresponsible’
Yesterday First Minister Marl Drakeford reiterated his call that social distancing by everyone is “absolutely essential” in order to delay the spread of the virus and save lives.
“We all need to follow this advice now to protect each other and our families and to help ensure our NHS is not overwhelmed,” he said.
“Social distancing includes avoiding all but essential travel and if people don’t follow this advice we will have no choice but to use powers to enforce it.”
The leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Paul Davies, also said that it was “totally irresponsible” and “very worrying” to see some people ignoring advice and travelling to holiday destinations in certain parts of Wales.
“As individuals, as families, as a nation, and as a United Kingdom, we absolutely must listen to the advice of experts who are telling us to take all the precautionary measures we can to limit the spread of Coronavirus,” he said.
“While it was a glorious Spring weekend, and yes, it was Mothers’ Day, however, I cannot emphasise enough how critical it is for everyone to behave appropriately.
“It was very worrying to see some people ignoring advice and travelling to holiday destinations in certain parts of Wales. This is totally irresponsible, and could put huge pressure on local health services and the supplies of essential goods.
“The Welsh and UK Governments must now work together to close caravan parks and tourist attractions as soon as possible.
“Where possible, people should stay at home to protect themselves, their loved ones, and our NHS.”
‘Green light’
Welsh National Party Leader Neil McEvoy said that in light of the Welsh Government’s failure to act, County Councils should take immediate action themselves to protect local communities in Wales.
“This weekend the Welsh Government has put areas of Wales at risk by its lack of action,” he said.
“Places like Gwynedd have been inundated with tourists, some of whom will probably be carrying the virus and passing it on through the surfaces they touch and the people they go near.
“Local Authorities should act immediately and close holiday camps, citing public health concerns. Instead of waiting for the green light from London or indeed Cardiff, Council leaders need to act to defend their own communities.
“Local Government already has the powers to review and revoke licenses if businesses do not cooperate, through the 2003 Licensing Act.”
“Italian and Spanish health services are in meltdown with staff choosing who is going to live or die. We still have a window of opportunity to avoid this. We must act now.”
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
County Councils already have the power to close places attracting unwanted tourism. 2003 Licensing Act. They should get on with it immediately, as per the Welsh National Party press release urging action.
i hope Nel McEvoy and his wife are better soon
Fantastic amount of hysteria in this virus panic. We have 5000 confirmed cases, 1300 hospitals (UK). That’s 4 each. 11,000 people die each week in the UK on average. That figure has not gone up nor will it apart from a tiny amount. Those who do succumb are those with existing poor health and the virus will marginally reduce that groups lifespan. Most virus sufferers will hardly notice symptoms, a few will have a bad case of flu. So we are going to cripple the economy, put thousands more into poverty and early deaths for the next 10 years. The… Read more »
Your “survival of the fittest” approach suggests that you spent too much time reading stuff like Mein Kampf or more recent BNP/NF literature. Apart from the threat of the Covid 19, another threat manifested itself on the weekend when it became evident that thousands of shysters with kids out of school and now being financed by Boris’ well meaning handout are jumping on a self isolating bandwagon. However instead of staying at home the bastards are hopping off to sunny West/North Wales and other parts of the UK away from their home bases. Brings out the best in people, makes… Read more »
one man who stated that if he wants to come to his caravan in Wales he will he paying a £1000 for a plot and i could lick the door handles of every one of the caravans got an angry response and he removed the post
Daily Mail editor?
So a few deaths here and there is worth it? Is life so cheap to you? What if you were going to be one of ‘the few’, would you be so quick to dismiss it all?
I don’t think underestimating the effects of this pandemic are at all helpful, and since when has the economy, mere money, been of greater value than human life? There will undoubtedly be a large impact on the economy, but this could well be very beneficial in the medium to long term as the state has to increasingly take on the role of underwriting the economy far more to the benefit to ordinary citizens that it has done latterly. Up til now it has only been the corporate sector that has benefited from so called ‘socialism for the rich’ i.e. the… Read more »
Welsh government should have closed the border at least a week ago, but Dithering Drakeford has been waiting on the Westminster Wa***rs for a lead. It might be howled down as somehow ‘wacist’ but that has been the standard slur attached to anyone who has the temerity to prioritise local interests that wouldn’t be in any way contraversial anywhere else but in Wales, and Welsh speaking Wales in particular. The stark reality of the situation needs to be spelled out to those selfish individuals who think they can rely on our health services when they become ill. I’m sure that… Read more »
Exactly. We need to eradicate the subservient tendency that exists in the minds of the likes of Drakeford and others in Welsh government. It’s as though they are waiting to be called to provide services for these clowns who see fit to impose themselves at a time of crisis. Also time to ditch the fallacy that anything to do with tourism must be good !
He did not even day the words second home owners and tourists, yet Cumbria , Cornwall, Norfolk authorities have. What a spineless pointless man. Neil is right there, the local authorities have the authority to do it and should. Let’s use those environmental health and safety orders now
Great post!
It’s only a matter of time before this government orders a complete lockdown like in Italy and France – it’ll have no choice as the cases rise. I feel at the moment it is still half way between ‘herd immunity’ /protecting the economy and preventing thousands of deaths. You’d have thought it’d be a no-brainer wouldn’t you but not with Cummings….err Johnson in charge.
Most of the “tourists” at Barry Island were local day-trippers. Many likewise who were climbing Pen y Fan.
It’s up to the police and local/National Park authorities to manage the number – via marshalls, parking controls and advice to divert to less crowded hills and beaches.
The Vale of Glamorgan should have used their staff to manage the queuing for chips/takeaways, so as to secure social distancing. Backed up by police and announcement over the tannoy. Was the Vale Leader or senior officer on hand to take the lead?