Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies is supporting the more than 150 North Wales businesses whose owners have signed a letter calling for the First Minister to provide evidence to justify the new restrictions which came into force yesterday evening (Friday).
The letter, sent by the North Wales Mersey Dee Business Council on behalf of the businesses, highlights the negative impact of the new restriction in North Wales on Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure businesses, and their supply chains.
It warns that “imposing even tighter restrictions on our region without the regional evidence to support such measures could be construed as disproportionate and unjust to the people and businesses of North Wales.”
This is a view shared by James, who when the new restrictions were first announced on Monday, called on the First Minister to review them and adopt a localised approach, rather than one based on the needs of South Wales.
He said:
“I wholeheartedly support these North Wales businesses. Yet again, the Labour Welsh Government is treating them in a way that suggests it does not understand our region or have its best interests at heart.
“The rules for North Wales are far more restrictive than those in place in areas of England with similar infection levels [Tier 1 (medium) and Tier 2 (high)]. In Tier 1, restaurants and pubs can open as normal with table service, with last orders at 10pm; in Tier 2, they can operate if they are serving substantial meals; whereas in Wales they have to close by 6pm and cannot serve alcohol at any time of the day.
“Indoor entertainment venues, including cinemas, bingo halls, amusement arcades, bowling alleys and soft play centres are allowed to remain open in both Tier 1 and Tier 2, but must close in Wales, and professional sporting events and concerts are allowed to operate at 50% in England, but are not permitted at all in Wales.
“The fact than more than 150 businesses signed this North Wales Mersey Dee Business Council letter in less than 24 hours demonstrates just how outraged and frustrated businesses in North Wales are about the draconian decisions being taken by Mark Drakeford.
“Already in the Vale of Clwyd pubs and restaurants have decided to close as it simply isn’t viable for them to remain open under these strict rules. How is a pub expected to make a profit when it isn’t allowed to sell alcohol? It is ludicrous. It is also extremely unfair when many have invested so much in Covid-safe measures and desperately need some income.”
He added:
“The situation for these businesses is made worse by the otherwise welcome news that travel between Wales and Tiers 1 and 2 in England will be allowed. So, in what should have been their busiest time of year in the run up to Christmas, these businesses will be forced to sit back and watch as all their customers flock en masse to other areas to spend their money.
“The First Minister seems intent on decimating livelihoods and jobs in North Wales and it is little wonder that there has been so much backlash to his decisions. Instead of penalising hardworking people, he needs to listen to their calls and urgently review his ruthless measures before it is too late for them.”
