Second home owners ‘sharing tips on avoiding police’ to sneak into Wales at night
Second home owners are sharing tips so that they can sneak into Wales while avoiding police enforcing a ban on unnecessary travel, an MP has said.
Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts said that tourists were sneaking in at night in order to avoid detection, or even accepting the £60 fines and travelling on.
“I’m really sorry to have to make this message today but it’s evident that people are still arriving at their second homes and their holiday homes,” she said in a video message.
“The police are doing the best they can with the resources that are available to them and they do ask local people who have any reports of people travelling to such accommodation to contact them via email or via webchat.
“But we also have accounts of people with holiday homes sharing advice with each other to travel at night to avoid the police.
“And even the people who don’t care if they’re fined when they travel – they’ve set out and they want to arrive.
“Now, for people who are thinking about this, the rules are there for a reason. If you think you’re the exception to the rule, think again. You’re not. There are no exceptions in a pandemic.
“In south Gwynedd we do not have sufficient medical resources to cope with extra people. The shops don’t have the supplied to be able to cope with extra people.”
‘Hotspots’
Meanwhile, Anglesey Council’s tourism portfolio holder, Councillor Carwyn Jones, has written to MP Virginia Crosbie urging her to press on the Army to blockade routes into the island.
“Reports are coming thick and fast from every corner of Anglesey of holiday homeowners and tourists arriving in their droves for a bit of Easter fun,” he said.
“Needless to say, the worry this is causing local constituents is considerable and it’s clear that these are showing no regards to the measures put in place by the Government and are putting lives at risk.
“The risk to the residents of Anglesey is increasing considerably and the ability of our NHS to cope. The measures need to be much stricter, powers to enforce stronger and more resources needed to manage and control the measures.
“The police are doing a fantastic job with the resource at their disposal, however more backing is needed and I would now suggest the Army needs to be deployed to help the situation by manning the two bridges and hotspots before more and more start arriving.”
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Any blockade needs to be on the border into Wales! They should be turned back at that point. Police forces in Wales have the power under emergecy legislation to remove a person into a place of custody – I’m guessing that wouldn’t be their second homes!
Simple answer. Arrest them. Impound there transport and let them make there way home on the train or public transport after being released. Soon think twice if this was done to a few people
Send em home on the bus or train , think about it for a second ffs
I was born in Pembroke went to the Midlands for work, none in Pembroke. Worked hard all my life sold my family home in the Midlands split the money bought a flat in the Midlands to be near grandkids and a small house in Pembroke with the rest, which is about a mile from where I was born. I pay 50% extra council tax to Pembs County council, which I am willing to do. If I were allowed to come ‘home’ I would take all the precautions necessary to isolate, but you say I should have my car impounded and… Read more »
Don’t get personal! I’m English I live in Pembrokeshire And I take that as an insult. I put money into the Welsh economy. So get over yourself. You will be welcoming us in when it’s over. Talk about have your cake and eat it!
Exactly, money spent in shops, garages, restaurants and cafes and markets, glad to see us then. Have the bins emptied a couple of times, don’t use social services, libraries, clinics, children’s services, schools etc. Not taking out of the Welsh economy only giving more money in the increase in rates charges. Spain and Portugal don’t seem to have THIS PROBLEM with people buying property in their countries. If Welsh people want to come to buy in England as a second home, what’s the problem? If the money is short in these places, blame the Councils for not investing or not… Read more »
Why do you need a second home or even more properties. Many remain empty and are just physical bank saving accounts . This kills our communities everywhere on the planet. Why must we be uprooted from our presence in such landscapes. Heavy industry was bad enough but this land grab is far worse in that it is a means to rid the local people from their right to live in their own communities.
.
Welsh w****r
Beats me why anybody wants to go there there in the first place. Been once, never, ever again…
We don’t want the middle class 2nd home owning bastards back here, keep the twats.
Fuk off to your fields with the sheep and u will be ok u dirty sheep shagger
We shag them you eat them
The police should be given the power to confiscate any vehicle that breaks the curfew.
Work shopping or exercise or driving to your second home?not plain enough for you plain citizen give them points on their licence
Take there license away and the fine a£1,000 because sixty pounds isn’t enough for a weekend away the punishment needs to fit the crimes think about it it could be life!!!
I agree a £1,000 fine, will make them think twice
Yep and use the money to support our NHS staff.
France has 135 euro’s for first offence, over 1000 for second.
Yes. Good idea. And then make them walk back to where ever they came from.
The lockdown brought in place by government is our cerfew if you are not aware of this have a look on UK gov website it clearly states no essential travel I don’t see how unclear that is really I totally understand and anybody who doesn’t is help this covid19 virus spread #Stayathome
Please count your brain cells before joining a discussion.
Plain Citizen, have you been hiding under a rock? Perhaps you should just go back, probably safer
Non-essential travel is banned in Wales as I understand it under new legislation which includes swanning off on holiday, but no-one has mentioned any curfew and neither is that word mentioned on the government website:
https://gov.wales/staying-home-and-away-others-guidance
Don’t travel unless essential. Galloping off to a l2nd home definitely isn’t
Also the camp site that let them on should be fined an ordered to stay closed for an extra 12 months they might think twice about letting them on
Not necessarily a caravan! Some people have cottages as holiday homes!
Totally agree I’m a truck driver delivering essential supplies and I’m dismayed at the number of loaded cars on the roads
There speaks a criminal! Surprised you can write. Teach you in prison did they?
Don’t be rediculous – use the Army – do not give the police any more powers.
I agree, it feels like 1984 by George Orwell. Soon there will be nothing left of all the small businesses, local producers will not be able to take goods to the mainland without the correct paperwork, or it wouldn’t be economically viable. More people on the out work, more poverty. This list goes on. I’m not saying we don’t need some proportionate measures. We do need some pragmatic common sense.
I deplore these tactics, and support the travel restrictions established to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2. However, my concern is that some second home owners will need to carry out checks and essential maintenance at some point. We are fortunate that we have friends in the area who can check on ours for us while we are unable to visit; however, some people may not be in this position. Many second home owners have contributed considerably to their communities over the years in various ways; we are not all arrogant parasites. Perhaps some informal arrangements could be established locally to… Read more »
I’m very aware ‘some’ holiday homes need checking but this does not need four or five people, some children to come and check said holiday home, stay in your own ‘usual’ residence where you are registered with your local GP. Stay safe and keep others safe, see you when this is done.
No, certainly not; this is why I suggested that local arrangements for checking second homes might usefully be put in place. It would deprive people of the opportunity to sneak a family holiday while checking a property. I should point out that we will not be visiting our own cottage while restrictions are in place.
Why don’t you employ someone local to your property to carry out checks thus providing much needed income to those affected economically by the crisis and providing reassuration to yourself.
Agree we have asked a local resident to check on our property and water the garden. They are happy to do.
After, only two weeks lock down they need to check their properties?
No, not at the moment, but if the lockdown goes on for several months they will need to.
If everyone stayed at home in the primary residence it won’t go on for weeks. The movement of people is continuing the spread of the virus! Also a high percentage of holiday home owners have a property management Co or caretaker/housekeeper looking after their property. It’s not illegal for them to go and check the property
This is here for months not weeks, any ideas that this will be over soon is misguided.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0blmn5l/the-flu-that-killed-50-million
Why do they have to check there properties,I have a property in Cyprus but that will stand empty until I’m aloud to visit next so what is the difference?????
Difference is Paul those of us with caravans on seasonal pitches with additional freezers etc. As we pay for electricity via a card this will need topping up oralternately we will need to empty freezers etc for health and safety reasons.
The only health and safety priority here is the eradication of this virus. Emptying freezers shouldn’t be on anybody’s radar at the moment-I honestly can’t believe what I’m reading.
wrist second homes are located on holiday parks and have been closed since November 2019 so yes they do need to be checked on and maintenance carried out Also like my family we have owned a holiday home (chalet bungalow) in Wales for over 30years we pay council tax and contribute to the eccomony by purchasing household goods furniture electrical items updating bathroom, kitchen new decking and employing local tradespeople so yes we are concerned with the restrictions and not being able to check on properties so if we are not welcome just think of the lost revenue if we… Read more »
Too bad. You are breaking the law and also have no moral compass. It is not fair to overload the local health service ir bring the virus into these areas. Everyone knows that you are fleeing virus hotspots. And then you make it sound like you are doing the licaks a bug favour. What will it take to get the message through your thick heads.
So you think your bit of elecy and a few groceries and a bit of tax that gose to make it so pleasant for you to come to for 30 years. Is worth more than a life I think you need to have a conversation with the ICU Dr or nurses on the ICU ward and tell them why you think it is a good idea to make more shortages in the ICU wards of Wales and now that doctor has to chose who gets the ventilator and who as it stopped to give to another patient. As now we… Read more »
It is not the fact that we in Wales do not want you here at all. It is now right at this moment in time due to the pandemic of Covid-19. We are ever so grateful that you have kept some of us employed and paid your council tax, but right now we do not want you or any other second home owners possibly bringing this virus with you!! This is why restrictions have been put in place. You do not have to undertake maintenance at this moment in time. Homes can be replaced, lives can not. Our hospitals would… Read more »
Seriously???threatening locals with lost revenue and income!!!!!you’re certainly not going to be welcomed back with open arms if you have such a rigid view. If everyone just stays put and stops travelling here there and everywhere, all will be back to normal far far quicker. We need to support one another and hope and pray that it’s not yours or my loved ones that fall ill
We will go back to the old style if they want burn them
Nasty comment
I don’t think many people will be too sorry if you and others like you sell up, it may make housing affordable for the locals
Oooh thank you so much for helping us Welsh people out. We don’t know where we’d be if it wasn’t for you.
I’m sure someone else would buy your very important property and help us really poor peasants. How will we survive if you have to sell.
Stay home idiot. There’s a pandemic.
Yes we can afford your imaginary increase in council tax…good bye, hope you get a good price for your holiday home!
There is NO economic argument on either side of this debate. It is a matter of containing a virus by staying at home. We all prevent transmission of virus by staying at home. Secondly, if YOUR medical need, arises away from your main residence, you compete with, and deprive local people of resources. Can I come stay really close to you, if and when I get sick?. Bored at home and need a change of scenery
I’d rather pay extra council tax and stay alive than have you contaminate our communities. What part of keep away for the time being do you not understand-we’re all having to make sacrifices.
Your not welcome. Get over it. Nobody cares about your “contributions over the years”. Stay home and stop whining like a spoilt brat.
If they hadn’t visited in the 2 weeks prior to lockdown maybe yes. My father died during this period and I am having to visit his empty home to ensure insurance remains valid
There are so many unemployed in Wales. I am sure at least a few of them would be willing to do a few house checks for second home owners in payment of the odd food parcel. At least they could feed there extended families. Doing a good deed in upholding safety and security is quite honourable…
That’s the sort of patronising and arrogant attitude that gives second home owners a bad name!
Mate it’s Wales not Ghana 😂😂😂 no one has a holiday home in Newport Gwent
I LIVE IN DEVON Do you not realise it has nothing to do with locals not wanting people at their 2nd homes.. It’s the fact that we do not have the NHS facilities in the South West that most other areas have .. . So many of our hospitals have closed down … We have lost most of our local ambulances .. Often waiting times in the small towns and villages are well over an hour .. Most can be as long as 2 hours .. With locals having to try and keep someone alive .. Whilst waiting … From… Read more »
Also they could be bringing COVID-19 with them.
Well said. People just dont get it. It’s all about health care. At the end of the day. Also they could be bringing the virus. .that’s the whole idea of lockdown.
I’ve got a second home in Wales, but I’m staying away, prior to the lockdown i had the forethought to turn my water off and i have cctv i can view the inside remotely!
This is serious, i have lost a relative through corvid-19, even if you think you dont have it now, you might still be carrying it, please dont be ideots follow the governments advise.
Well said, Trevor. Hope you don’t need to stay away too long.
Diolch, Trevor I wish everyone was like you.
Hope it’s not to long before you can return to God’s country🏴😆
Well said and at last some intelligence from a 2nd home owner.
Well said Trevor. You and your family are welcome in Wales any time, ( apart from pandemics .). Thank you for staying away during this time.
I think the health of the nation is more important than making sure your lavish holiday home is ok, what do you think is going to happen to it if you leave it on its own? It’s not going anywhere, you’ll still be rich when this is all over. Just because ‘some’ of you ‘may’ have contributed to local communities does not give you anymore right to do what you want than anyone else. #firstworldproblems
Know what you are saying, but surely they could hold off for a few weeks, unless there really is an emergency. Travel can spread this virus after all, and anyone could become ill after getting to their holiday home which puts further strain on local health care.
This is a very serious situation, second homes are NOT of paramount importance. GET A GRIP !!!!!!
How convenient essential works need to be done during a travel restricted pandemic, easy stay where you are selfish, self obsessed , buffoons
It doesn’t need a whole family to check on holiday homes, and what is more important a holiday home or a life
WHY NOT
It only needs one person to check on the property,not a car load with enough food for 2weeks.
The checking of a property is a flimsy excuse. Even if it was plausible it is not legal nor moral
Local contractors are unable to work due to social isolation so why should an exemption be granted to carry out maintenance work on someone’s second home. This is a matter of saving lives-what is the problem in understandingthis. Your leaking tap will have to wait I’m afraid.
Catherine that is utter rubbish. Nobody NEEDS to check a holiday home. It will still be there next month and the month after. You might have a bit of rotten food to clear from the fridge or freezer afterward but that’s about it. Bullshit excuse. Stay home.
[email protected]
Are these people so stupid to put other people’s lives in danger as well as their own filling up our hospitals .they need throwing in a police cell
Wee the same race. ask the police or neighbour to check the property.. I think you are struggling to understand why the guidelines are in place.
What’s Germany got to do with this, Plain Citizen?
It’s nothing to do with Wales v England.
It’s just common sense for people not to travel to these type of areas in large numbers.
Many second home owners from England have posted in agreement on this thread
It also applies to people from Wales who have second homes
Politicians in the Lake District have said similar things without being compared to the Third Reich.
You clearly need to get a sense of proportion.
If we are all staying in at home why is it different for somebody else to just go and check on my holiday home
Yes they are selfish thick and stupid
Why should we put our police at further risk?
Impound the vehicle and make the selfish walk home.
The rich are selfish, that’s why their rich.
Mark, im sure a lot of people will agree with me, please don’t tar everyone with the same brush, im staying away at my first home so im not being selfish, im retired having worked hard all my life and now i want to enjoy my hard earned cash in the way i want to by spending it in wales, but i say again im staying away from my second home so as not to cause further problems for any of the local services which i still have to pay for. At this horrible time it may be you that… Read more »
How do you think this virus moves around
Well done Plain citizen, you win today’s Godwin’s Law award. What an entitled idiot you are.
Going from the comments, I would say most of them are not stupid. Most people are taking the sensible approach, staying away. Some however are stupid plus arrogant and extremely selfish. See the comment from Jean above. Stupid, arrogant, selfish and stuck up their own arses. Let’s hope Jean and anyone like her stay away and sell their holiday home.
I have a caravan in north wales.I came home(manchester)before the closure of caravan and camping sites because I was keeping track on the numbers succumbing to COVID 19 in wales and it scared me.Why anyone believes they are safer in Wales than back home in England is a mystery to me.Ive probably forfeited £2000 in coming home but what price peace of mind.Those still attempting to enter Wales should be subject to criminal prosecution because not only are they putting themselves and our Welsh friends at risk but also those of us back home when they return….as well as themselves.The… Read more »
I respect you for being sensible stay safe
Michael Graham, we look forward to welcoming you and your family back once it is all safe, common sense has to prevail and we thank you. Hope you and your family keep safe and well in Manchester. See you soon. Thank you 🙏
That’s the best idea so far. Seizing the 2nd home therefore preventing future holidays or income from the home is better than a fine and would be more effective.
I think its disturbing to think people can behave so irresponsible we have a holiday home but have no intention off going there at this terrible time yes it’s a shame but be we need to pull together on this
Well said be wing perhaps you could repost what you’ve already said so it might sink in if those ignorant people could bring themselves to read it again.
What positive is hundreds of people swarming into a rural area which has limited medical services and possibly infecting local people who have made the effort to listen to gov advice? If hundreds of strangers landed in your village or town and emptied your shops of all food and infected your family you would be happy?
Exactly✌️
Locals are reporting that Llanbedrog is very quiet, Abersoch and Nefyn are ghost towns, Aberdaron is empty. Reported elsewhere today, NWP searched the entire area and found only 7 people who had homes elsewhere. We need some confirmation that droves of people are coming here. If that is the case, it’s obviously wrong, but exaggerating will add tensions to the already upsetting health pandemic.
People who travel in these circumstances should be refused service , food, water and medical aid
Inhumane
There must be away to identify these people and impose heafty fines on them.. if they have second homes they have a large disposable income. It is totally unacceptable and unfair on locals. I love wales i have spent most of my life holidaying in wales. But i would never put the local community at risk. All these people are just selfish.. i meet these type of people every shift being a front line emergency worker.
I have a holiday home in wales but I DO NOT have a disposable income… my partner is a lorry driver and I work in a shop, we both still work now! We work dam hard and that is why we have our holiday home, not everyone that owns one is rolling in money! Theres nothing more I wud like than to come to my holiday home but I choose not to to NOT because we are told not to!!
This is not a personal attack, this is a deadly disease, NHS are on the frontline.Is it too much to ask that we follow advice to insure the best outcome
Stay safe Bob. Looking forward to seeing you and your family when this is all over. Thanks to for being in the front line.
Its not wales v england u numpty, its commensense!!!I dont care if they come from outer hebridees, they should not be coming here, have you any idea what they are creating??
If they use the NHS out of their primary home address, charge them as you would a foreign national.
Escort them home then have their vehicles confiscated, sold for scrap and their holiday homes auctioned off and the proceeds donated to the NHS/healthcare related charities. Entitled idiots.
I understand the anger entirely in the message. However the retribution is utterly excessive. Revealing, though that the writers true feelings of jealousy may be found iin the words…”entitled idiots”. (By the way I do not own a 2nd home).
I totally agree with the local comments. Why are these people any different from the rest of us. I visit Wales on a regular basis. I’m a rock climber and walker. At this present time I would not even think about visiting anywhere in this country Wales England or scotland. I must say not all people that has money agree with some of these people. Surely they don’t check on their homes in the winter so what is different now its just an excuse to break the law because they’ve found away to do it. Crush their cars imprison them… Read more »
Hope your safe in your 5 million pound home
Dead right, all the long waiting lists in this country, shame on you, 5 million 2nd homes would be a great help in easing the housing “shortage”
Are you saying that they pay the fine and are then allowed to drive on to ‘Dunroamin” without being turned back by the police?
Surely not ??
If people are going to choose to put the safety of others at risk, by ignoring the advice of government, then they must be stopped. Wales is CLOSED to tourists. Go home. Stay at home. You do NOT belong here. Be safe, and well. You’ll be welcome back once this is over
Not surprised one bit whilst nipping to my local Asda for essentials this morning, 2 cars towing caravans past me on the A55.
Wow Andrea you’re ‘local’ Asda must be miles away having to use the 55, couldn’t do without that wheel clamp and Hi vis until all this was over eh?
Having holidayed in Anglesey for50 + years it is obviously a place I absolutely love. However It disgusts me that people would consider now we have a lockdown in place to be selfish enough to add to the local burden on the NHS, increasing pressure on demand for food but most importantly the strong possibility of spreading Covid-19. The wonderful people of Anglesey deserve you to stay away until this is all over. Could a patrol be put in place on the two bridges if these people are tourists or second home owners a significant fine should be incurred which… Read more »
Well said Mrs L Brooker
I deplore these tactics, and support the travel restrictions established to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2. However, my concern is that second home owners will need to carry out checks and essential maintenance at some point. We are fortunate that we have friends in the area who can check on ours for us while we are unable to visit; however, some people may not be in this position. Many second home owners have contributed considerably to their communities over the years in various ways; we are not all arrogant parasites. Perhaps some informal arrangements could be established locally to check… Read more »
If a second home owner needs to have the property checked then they could employ a local to go and do the check. This probably wouldn’t cost much more that the fuel they’d use to get there.
The argument of the house needs checking so we thought we’d bring the family is purely selfish and idiotic and shows no concern whatsoever for the local community.
This is exactly what the Scottish Chief Medical Officer, Dr Catherine Calderwood, has been warned by the police for doing (twice). Blatant hypocrisy and a very poor example from somebody who should be providing leadership, and whose exhortations to ‘stay at home … ‘ etc. had been widely broadcast on Scottish television.
Who really cares? Whilst I don’t condone any attack on property such as you suggested, I think the campaign you refer to was somewhat nuanced – did you stop for a moment to think why that campaign had such widespread passive support in Wales? And why, up til now, no-one has ever been brought to justice over that arson campaign? The fact that you have a holiday home means that a local Welsh person doesn’t have a home, or if they have, it will be because somewhere has had to be built, thus contributing to overdevelopment. There is also the… Read more »
Just as a point of information, we renovated a dilapidated Grade II listed building which has been empty for two years. A previous sale had falled through. The property was purchased at auction. It is situated on a dangerous bend on the A487. We did not deprive any local person of a home; because it was listed, and because of its location, nobody local was interested. Our only competitor in the auction was a property developer.
It is to your credit that you saved a listed building, but Sibrydionmawr’s comments about holiday homes generally are entirely correct. The whole business is entirely out of Welsh control and contributes nothing, either economically or in terms of Welsh culture, to the areas where such properties are found. Many of these properties are actually advertised for sale outside Wales, and this obviously has to be put a stop to. The contempt shown for the people of Gwynedd by those who have ignored the requests to stay away will, I think, be a game changer after Covid-19 has been defeated.… Read more »
We had been intending to move to Gwynedd from our home in Cheshire. Last summer we looked at a considerable number of candidate houses. I am of Welsh descent (parents on both sides, from south Wales), and am very keen to do so; however, I will find it hard to persuade my English partner that she will be welcomed there after seeing some of what has been written in these comments. My concern is that anger towards those who are breaching the travel restrictions will be generalised to all second home owners, with the possibility of arson, criminal damage and… Read more »
The best solution would be the system used in Jersey, which has a local price and a ‘market’ price. Local people are given first option, and if no-one wants to buy, then the property is offered to outsiders at the higher, ‘market’, price.
I’m English but my partner is from Holyhead and wants to move back, we also bought a dilapidated property in need of extensive repair that had been on the market for several years. I have done the renovation myself using local suppliers and with occasional help from the Local farmer who has become a friend of mine . I havnt returned to my property since the lock down and nor will I. I’d like to say whilst I understand and sympathise with some of the views voiced,, I’m afraid that some of the basic racist rhetoric used is just as… Read more »
Calling out a section of English society that puts the lives and health of other people in danger is not “racist rhetoric”. The problem is occurring in the Scottish Highlands (lowland Scots the main culprits) and in certain rural parts of England (e.g. Cumria, which consequently has a high rate of infection). It is inevitable that if the same problem is vivited on Cymru, and the perpetrators are mainly from over the border, Welsh people will be angry. Wouldn’t you be if the boot was on the other foot?
Many countries are suffering the consequences of over-tourism, whether it is holiday homes or the dreaded Airbnb. Just look at the local political opposition to the increasing number of tourists in Barcelona and Venice. However, all economic development has its downsides as well as the benefits, so it is a matter of balance, which is very difficult to achieve owing to all the conflicting interests involved.
Well said, my thoughts entirely
Well said…it’ no wonder the English “tourists” are so disliked…no HATED…wherever they go….do as your told
STAY AT HOME and show a little respect
Priorities. Health is more important than property maintenance, checks etc. Such checks are not essential. I have businesses/properties in the west of Wales. I have not and would not ask anyone to check or to attend to maintenance matters. As for driving down myself – it has not occurred to me to do so- and I shall not. I respect my fellow Welsh citizens and human life too much. I think we have reached a point that as some people are obviously ignoring advice not to travel to holiday/second homes and travelling regardless of pollock stops and fines- more rigorous… Read more »
Absolutely ridiculous putting strain on local health services & spreading virus .. how do they know that they haven’t been infected already .. please stay where u r
I’m not a second home owner BUT why can’t people who own those (second) homes, pay local (council) taxes into Gwynedd, and would ORDINARILY shop in local shops, be excluded. Is this to boost the councils resources over and above the ‘norm’? Sorry – the Welsh want tourists to employ them and boost their economy and then want to keep folk out when it suits! I note too that Gwynedd and North Wales residents are happy to cross the border to use Liverpool and ENGLISH hospitals! Contentious comments I know – but you can’t have your cake and eat it!… Read more »
Firstly there is a ban on non essential travel, your little holiday is non essential. Secondly, a lot of holiday home owners (not all) have registered their home as a business to avoid paying the local council taxes. This happens in all the tourist areas p, e.g. Cornwall, Lake District etc. Thirdly, and proving your ignorance, if a person from Wales uses the NHS in England, then the Welsh NHS pays for their treatment. It is not about keeping them out, although personally I’m against anyone owning a holiday home, it’s about slowing the spread of a virus into areas… Read more »
Let’s ignore second homes for a moment. If you travel from Liverpool to, say, Warrington for any other reason than essential work or another permitted reason, you are breaking the law. Non-essential travel is illegal, whether it’s half a mile down the road or to the Welsh coast.
we cant cross the border for hospitals unless it is for specialist treatment like heart and neurological i nealy lost my leg 12 months ago because welsh health boards hadn’t got the equipment to sort and let me suffer in agony rather than send me over the border i had to pay private in the end to save my leg by the way by the way both my husband and i paid into the english nhs for45 yrs and didnt move to wales untill we were in our 70.s
Sorry your local hospital could not treat your leg Mr Lewis at University Hospital of Wales saved mine in 2011 (I could have lost it). Appears Wales can be a postcode lottery then.
Typical silly scouser! What part of everyone apart from front line and key workers to go out is so hard to understand? Why put a lot of other people’s lives at risk from the spread of something so terrible and the possible extra strain on the already struggling NHS. They don’t council pax on all these holiday parks as its not a permanent residence so there’s no gain for any of the Welsh councils there! It’s not Welsh folk wanting too keep people out through choice it’s on government and spacialist medical advice.
Big Taff, are the ‘front line and key workers’ immune then and we can be assured that no police officer, paramedic or shelf stacker will transmit the virus? Or does standing 2 metres away from someone make you feel safe? What say the person you are ‘social distancing ‘ from had sneezed into their hand and touched the Tesco card machine prior to you and when you ask the checkout girl if it’s been disinfected she says ‘yes, every morning ‘!!! No need to explain to her the pointlessness of her stupidity. What is happening is not a concerted effort… Read more »
Liverpool resident, what an utterly rediculous, brainless response. There are all types of human beings, unfortunately situations like this show up that proportion of the population who wete born with the selfish gene. Anyone commenting in defense of those idiots going against government advice and travelling to any holiday home in the uk truly show themselves up for what they are. Picture the scenario, one of them falls ill with Covid-19 turn up at local hospital to find no bed, no equipment and not enough nurses or drs to save them, me thinks and hopes that at that point when… Read more »
Now that says it all! nothing more than ignorrant comments and I’m very surprised that you think that us welsh are against the English. its igmoranus like you is the problem. You could come from Mars and we would welcome you with open arms in normal times but the this is a Pandemic that kills people and staying at home ( your own home ) can save lives and reduce the strain of our NHS. We only have the 1 major hospital to cover Anglesey and Gwynedd area which is a large rural area. So please keep your resist comments… Read more »
Welsh resident
we are on lockdown !!! my husband and son work for the NHS they put their lives on the line everytime they go to work people are dying no one is saying the welsh dont wont the English here please grow up .stay safe and stay at home
You aren’t comparing like with like. There are some people who think that they would be better off with a hard England-Wales border (they are as mistaken as people who believe a hard border between the UK and EU is progress); however, the majority who need specialist care understand that such hospitals are inevitably located in or near the largest population centres where there is the greatest demand as doctors treat people not acres. But that is in normal times, currently both governments (Welsh and UK) want to limit population movement and have emphasized the importance of staying at home… Read more »
my family on my dads side come from Liverpool but let me get one thing straight. yes you pay council tax on second homes but you’d pay that anyway where ever you are in Britain and the tourists aren’t employing the welsh., they are paying for the services they receive whilst visiting Wales regardless of what nationality they are. As for the question of going to Liverpool and English hospitals that is down to where the clinics are. Because most specialist hospitals are in England that is where the consultants send us. People don’t have a choice in that. It… Read more »
Knob of the day.
There is no tourist economy worth mentioning. The scraps which are tossed to our peasants are normally leftovers from the tourists shopping spree in England before leaving.
National tourists on the other hand are far more welcome, they actually spend their money here.
Its a long misconception that english tourists support the economy in Wales. They like to think so but reality is that we would rather if you stayed away….. permanently.
Not able to cross the border to use your services at the moment-check your facts. But Welsh nurses travelling to work in your hospitals.
Scumbags, just selfish gits who do not give a damn who they are responsible for killing. They should be locked up.
Not just a Wales v England matter. People from South Wales have caravans and second homes in West Wales.
It seems that they are for the most part complying.
In fairness it’s just a minority of idiots now who are trying to get into Wales.
Most people seem to have got the message.
Fatuous rubbish. You just don’t get it do you ?
Liz SJ’s warnings are issued to anyone entering rural or coastal Wales from where ever.It could be another part of Wales.
Similar warnings have been issued by politicians in Cumberland, Cornwall, Norfolk etc.
The positive aspects that have come out of this are irrelevant to the matter in question.
You are a danger to mankind.. The people of Cornwall, Devon or the Lakes don’t want second home owners visiting at this time either. How many people actually needs to die before you finally understand why people want visitors to stay away for the time being. I’m English but have lived in Wales for the past 30 years, Your bigotry and self entitlement is actually embarrassing to those of us who have their roots in England,, Please be quiet.
This absolutely disrespectful to the government & residents of any areas where this is happening, instead of a £60 increase it to £100 and that’s for everyone in the vehicle, although children are innocent of the scenario the parents / guardian are not, also when caught the vehicle should be fitted with a tracking device, all hire vehicles should be fitted with tracking devices too, this would be of benefit to hire companies anyway in normal times anyway, if this measure isn’t enough how about imposing a 3 month driving ban for those caught breaking the guidelines, harsh as it… Read more »
The sense of entitlement , self interest and complete lack of consideration for the health and lives of others by such people disobeying the ‘only essential travel is totally unacceptable. My anger is compounded by those supporting them stating the need for 2nd home property maintenance. Some sort of supreme right from those over the border to do as they will in Wales because of trite reasons as ‘add to local economy’, ‘own the property and pay council tax’ ( many avoid this by registering as a business). No largely such people are a detriment to the local culture and… Read more »
What happens if any of them become ill?these are very selfish people….me..me..me.they will expect Angelsey hospital to look after them.
There are no hospitals on Anglesey – Bangor is the nearest one
Prince Charles (part time Cornish man) nipping up to his holiday home in Balmoral surely that’s a£60 fine in the post?
Better to requisition wherever he is in Scotland and turn it into a hospital. Charles could even fund much needed equipment and protective garments. Thinking on this- is Buckingham palace empty at the moment- right in the middle of London. Great location for a hospital with extensive grounds. Flogging off the artwork, fixtures and fittings would go towards funding staff and equipment for the ‘royal’ hospitals
I have a static caravan in the Yorkshire dales.
The site closed, locked the gates and we haven’t been for 3 weeks.
Rules are rules, fair enough.
The Queen tottles off to Windsor Castle, Prince of Wales goes to self isolate in Balmoral, Prince Ginge is between Canada and L. A. And some swan off to Norfolk, one rule for us commoners and another for the elite
Very well said I totally agree x
Harry is James hewitts lad isn, t he, why should he be called a royal. After all his mother lived up to her name queen of tarts.
This comment is totally out of order. What did she ever do to you.
People are inherently selfish, Anglesey is covered by Bangor hospital, yes they have wonderful staff and a state of the art theatre wing with 10 theatres, but there it stops, the people who own second homes, I too Steve Haigh call a spade a spade and I don’t own a second holiday home, I own a static caravan on Anglesey, should realise if they are ill here the system is underfunded and cannot cope now, let alone when a national emergency is happening, last op I had I was sent from Wrexham to Bangor and the hospital couldn’t keep the… Read more »
Thanks for this post. Very sad, though. Good liuck , and happy Easter, the time of hope.
Come to South Wales. We have a lot of the type of people you’re talking about. Selfish tossers who think they should be seen immediately. Abusing nurses and doctors and even getting violent at times. We have the same scum in Wales.
They have arrived in Looe 3 doors away.. Selfish ba*****s. Blocking anyone from using the hammerhead turning area. Idiots from Birmingham. They say they are doing no harm.. WHAT!!!
Same here in my village in N Cornwall. Within yards of my home have had and in fact still got some visitors. One, judging by number of cars must have at least six staying. Sad to say, one culprit is next door neighbour. They are just blatant about it.
I vote Tory…I am English.. I am not stupid… you can keep your idiots.. you have forever helped me decide never to visit Wales, which I always thought was a beautiful place and would have loved to see.. but you are sooo rude that you have out me off. Shame you ruin it.
Bye bye then Terry. If you’re too stupid to recognise why the restrictions are in place, that the health service in these areas couldn’t cope with the virus that you may bring and more importantly that the people of Wales also pay taxes and pensions, then you’re not going to be missed.
Stay in England and fawn over your clown of a prime minister. You’re not going to be missed in Wales.
Theirs one way of seeing who’s going where in this time of lockdown,every mobile phone has a tracker,just needs the police to be able to access it,but the law’s prevent it,come on google allow them easier access to this track system.
Have the bridges guarded 24/7 that will stop the thick,stupid ,selfish people who think this lockdown does not apply to them. I have a caravan on Anglesey but would not dream of going at the present time
North Wales would not survive without second home/ caravan owners . what is different from self isolating in Manchester/ stoke/Liverpool??? The money these people put into your economy is astronomical, once this is over all you racist will open your arm’s and tills to make up for your losses, I live in Liverpool, my wife’s parents were welsh, and yes we own a caravan. You people want your cake and eat it, as long as people stay in one place and isolate what’s the problem?? Get over it !!!!!
This has nothing to do with tourism or economics. If anyone cared to take any notice, businesses all over the world are at the point of collapse due to the restrictions forced upon them by the virus. This is about resources and spread of a deadly virus into areas without the infrastructure to deal with the additional burden. It is about protection of vulnerable people and restricting the vector for the virus, which is human beings. This isn’t a Wales v England argument. It applies to any area where people have second homes. Everyone knows and appreciates the contribution second… Read more »
Most Welsh people don’t want ‘tourism’, and most of us don’t prosper by it, most of us don’t even make a decent living out of it, as most of the holiday trade is run by outsiders who, at best, will employ locals for three months of the year at minimum wage level, making it impossible to escape poverty. Many young people leave North Wales because the local housing market has become so distorted that they can’t compete in the local housing market due to those selfish individuals who want a holiday home. There is also the impact on the Welsh… Read more »
Tourism does absolutely nothing for the economy of Cymru. It only lays foundations to turn Cymru into a colony of England where Cymric people become a minority in their own country. If you think that tourism creates sustainable all year round employment then you are living in cloud cuckoo land.
If we had the proper economic levers and powers we could build a sustainable economy without having to be dependant on the tourist pound to prop us up. Don’t get me wrong, tourism is and should be a valuable part of the economy, but by no means should be fundamental to it. We should be investing heavily in producing green energy and building and working on the opportunities this would create, incentivising our young talent to stay in their local areas and have people living in communities throughout the year. But we need Wales to start waking up…..
the difference is Manchester, Stoke & Liverpool have access to a much larger NHS service than what we have in Wales, people coming in from outside could be bringing the virus with them, and it will take fewer numbers of infected people to swamp NHS Cymru than it will to swamp NHS England, that’s what the quarantine is all about, trying to avoid swamping the NHS where ever, It’s quite simple stay at home,
How does money help at the minute you donut everything is closed
An economy built on low pay, zero hour contracts,
Subserviant to doffing the cap, Thatcher destroyed the UK manufacturing base. Wales never asked for a tourism industry , Britain has plundered our natural resources Coal, Slate and Water then sold us out, our youth are forced by necessity to move elsewhere no housing or opportunities for them in rural wales except to bow the knee to tourists or wipe arses in the private care sector.
You’re another deluded idiot who just think of themselves. North Wales wouldn’t survive without you? 🤔😂😂😂. You’re a funny muppet Gerard. You’re not as important as YOU like to imagine you are. I bet you dream of being superior, you’re not. You’re the same as the rest of us ordinary mortals.
I call them Shearwaters…They come in by night to land in their burrows.
I call them Shearwaters..they come in at night to their burrows,
This is disgusting,when people who live in Wales are abiding by the rules. These second home owners are putting local people here at risk. I hope that they get the army in to prevent this. Residents who see these second home owners should report them to the authorities.
Well said
The reason people voted tory was that the other parties held undemocratic views and the people don’t like that
This has nothing to do with your spending in Wales and everything to do with non-essential travel. I’ll say it again – NON-ESSENTIAL. It’s illegal in all of the UK. What is so difficult about that for you to understand? Are you thick, arrogant or both?
Plain Citizen your comment is completely out of context…no one with any sense wants to see death rates soar due to a minority of entitled idiots feeling they have a right to travel when there are elderly and other vulnerable people isolated from society for fear of losing their lives. Grow up and engage your brain
Maybe much, much higher fines, say £2000. Or, after lockdown relaxes, the’re sentenced to many hours of community service in the area of their ‘second home’ even seizure of their property for period of time that the courts decided, and used for the good of the local people
I live in rural England and have seen quite a few cars loaded with kids and quilts today coming to their holiday homes, my daughter lives on Anglesey and reports the same. I’m fearful of these selfish idiots putting a strain on local services. Our nearest hospital is 35 miles away and services are cut to the bone around here but a large influx of infected morons will leave people without ICU beds when they’re most needed.
Anyone at their second homes should not get access to local icu beds it’s that simple!!
Why does this rule NOT apply to Royal Family etc????
Also some people may be travelling to send food to people at risk group in Wales who can’t get home delivery! Stop assuming everyone is out for a jolly
Read the title at the top !
I think you might all be missing the point a bit here. No one is safe anywhere, Covid 19 isn’t Welsh or English, nor does it have any respect for Borders. The worst is yet to come and its already present in every area of the UK. Stop banging on about the latest target for your blame game and start preparing for the tidal Wave that’s coming for all of us.
That is because people are idiots and when they bring in even stricter policies it will be their fault.
This has been going on for hundreds of years the minority of English people, mostly from the south east do not care about anyone but themselves, they have never had any respect for the Welsh people or culture. We are here for their pleasure, just ask people from the north of England, the Midlands, Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain and many more, go home.
Yep, and if we stand up for ourselves by voice, we aren’t heard. So if we stand up by force, we are imprisoned. English like to rule us, makes them think they still hold an empire.
Plain citizen, is your middle name stupid ? Don’t go to Wales, the Peak District, the Lake District or indeed anywhere else that you may spread the virus, just stay at home until this emergency has passed. Is it so difficult to understand ? When we’re through this feel free to go wherever you wish to go.
I completely agree with the people of Wales on this, here in Cornwall we had the same problems with some bloody irresponsible holiday home owners actively encouaging people to come and self isolate! We only have one major hospital and that cant Cope normality. We get The same arguments about Being Hostile and how we will come begging when the tourists stop arriving, what is it with some people who think they have A god given right to Ignore important instructions from the government to keep people alive!
To be Fair the majority of SENSIBLE people have heeded the warnings.
Same on Isle of Wight but, as of today, only key and frontline workers are allowed, plus necessary deliveries of meds, food, etc. Holiday parks were still trying to get people to come and stay only a week ago and one posh hotel was advertising bolthole breaks for DFTs ( Down from Towners). If your main residence isn’t here, you won’t get in, second home owners. We have one hospital here which is stretched to bursting at the best of times. Same arguments about being hostile…
What the hell is going on here? I live in Anglesey and I’m abiding by the rules the Government have clearly stated no unnecessary travel, only to go out when necessary for essentials and to stay indoors to stop the spread of covid-19.
What is not to understand about that request to save lives!! It has got nothing to do with being racist or about tourist not being welcome. It’s just fact that for the time being, we as well as other holiday destinations are on lockdown.