North Wales Conservatives slam Welsh Government over ‘devastating’ new hospitality rules

Conservatives politicians in North Wales have slammed the Welsh Government over “devastating” new restrictions which are set to be imposed on the hospitality industry.

Restaurants, pubs and bars will be banned from selling alcohol and will have to close at 6pm when new restrictions are introduced in Wales on Friday, with only takeaways and deliveries allowed after that time.

Indoor entertainment and visitor attractions will also be required to close completely under measures designed to stop the spread of Covid-19 following a recent increase in cases.

First Minister Mark Drakeford today announced a £340m support package for those impacted by the decision.

However, both Senedd Members and MPs from the Conservative benches have been queuing up to criticise the move.

Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders said: “Mark Drakeford’s devastating rules are wrong for Aberconwy.

“Between 20 and 26 November, Conwy County only had 19.6 cases per 100,000 whilst Wales as a whole had 211.3 per 100,000.

“In fact, on Saturday Conwy County had a rate of 9.4 per 100,000.

“Welsh Labour’s action is totally inappropriate and disproportionate for Conwy, and so the Welsh Government needs to think again.”

Clwyd West MS Darren Millar said: “With the virus circulating at wildly different rates in different parts of the country it is difficult to see how these Wales-wide restrictions can be justified.

“The new measures will cause many businesses to throw in the towel and are likely to lead to thousands of jobs being lost the length and breadth of the country.

“They are a kick in the teeth for those who’ve worked hard to implement Covid safe environments for their staff and customers.

“North Wales is likely to be particularly hard hit given the relative size of the hospitality industry to our economy and the importance of trade over the Christmas period.”

Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies said: “While I agree that scientific evidence has increasingly pointed to the role of hospitality venues in aiding infection spread, and that there must be some restrictions, it is so important after all these months that the measures in place are proportionate and fair, else we inflict unnecessary harm on ourselves, encourage non-compliance, and fuel resentment.

“Hospitality businesses here in the Vale of Clwyd, and indeed across the rest of North Wales, have worked immensely hard and invested substantial sums of money to ensure that their premises are “covid-safe”.

“They, and other businesses in the region have already been subject to very questionable measures in recent times, such as a county boundary travel ban during the month of October, only to now be dealt this further devastating news.”

North Wales regional MS Mark Isherwood said: “We know that most covid infections occur in homes and hospitals, not pubs and restaurants, which have invested massive time and money into making their premises as safe and covid compliant as they can, so Mr Drakeford and his Ministers have hit the wrong target.

“Unlike England, infections in Wales are rising after the First Minister’s ‘firebreak’, he should therefore be asking and targeting the reasons for this instead of imposing these stringent restrictions.”

The new Welsh Government support has been split into two funds: a £160m Restrictions Business Fund and a £180m sector-specific Economic Resilience Fund grant scheme.

The Restrictions Business Fund will enable eligible businesses in the hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors which pay non-domestic rates (NDR) to access grants of up to £5,000.

It is estimated around 60,000 businesses, with a rateable value of under £150,000 will receive this support.

Businesses not on the NDR system, will be able to continue to apply to local authorities for the Lockdown Discretionary Grant of up to £2,000.

In addition, hospitality, tourism and leisure businesses will be able to access a sector specific Economic Resilience Fund grant scheme.

Mr Drakeford said the new measures were needed to stop the spread of the virus and had been based on scientific advice.

He said: “Unfortunately, the virus is moving incredibly quickly across Wales and is eroding the gains we made during the firebreak period.

“We now need to take further steps together as a nation to protect people’s health and slow the spread of coronavirus.

“This virus – and this pandemic – continues to be full of unpleasant surprises. It thrives on our normal human behaviour and all those places and opportunities where we come together.

“It underlines why we need to take further, targeted action now. We will focus these changes on places where we meet and where coronavirus thrives, drawing on recent evidence from the UK SAGE group of experts about what interventions have had the biggest impact on the virus.”