Calls to revoke licenses of businesses who ignore coronavirus warnings

Councils should use emergency powers to revoke the licences of businesses who ignore pleas to shut during the Coronavirus pandemic.

That’s the view of one Gwynedd councillor who’s calling for an emergency meeting of the licensing committee to withdraw such permits on the basis of public health.

Both Anglesey and Gwynedd councils, as well as Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, all released statements over the weekend urging tourists to stay away from west Wales in a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19.

This was prompted by “unprecedented” scenes over the weekend and described by the Snowdonia National Park as among the “busiest visitor days in living memory” despite both the UK and Welsh Governments urging all but essential travel to be stopped.

But despite many caravan and camp sites heeding such calls and shutting their doors, which also saw much anger expressed by local residents on both social media and in the form of visible signs urging visitors to steer clear, local authorities and the respective governments have been accused of “being slow to act.”

Cllr Dylan Bullard, who represents Pwllheli North on Gwynedd Council, said: “ I think it’s a disgrace that our local authorities and governments have been so slow to act.

“Local communities have been left to put pressure on holiday sites themselves. We should shut the holiday sites to protect the health of our local communities.”

He added, “I have written to the chair of Gwynedd Council’s Licensing Committee to demand that an emergency meeting be convened to review licences, with a view to revoking or suspending them on the grounds of public health.”

Such views are shared by former Plaid Cymru AM Neil McEvoy, who is in the process of setting up the Welsh National Party.

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.”

Anglesey council has decided to shut many coastal parks and nature reserves in bid to deter holidaymakers, also writing to more than 400 businesses urging them to close all visitor accommodation.

From today, (Monday) the Newborough National Nature Reserve car park, as well as Holyhead Breakwater Country Park, Llangefni’s Dingle Local Nature Reserve, Beaumaris Pier and St George’s Pier in Menai Bridge are all closed to visitors as well as several coastal car parks.

Meanwhile, the leader of Gwynedd Council said on Sunday: “We urge owners of holiday parks, caravan parks and self-catering properties including Airbnb to close immediately for the wellbeing of all Gwynedd’s residents, and a letter has been sent to ask them to do this immediately if they haven’t already done so.”

Gwynedd Council has been approached to respond to both Cllr Bullard and Mr McEvoy’s comments.

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter