AN MP representing a major seaside resort in Wales has urged Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford to scrap the two-metre rule as soon as the science permits.
Jamie Wallis, whose Bridgend constituency includes Porthcawl, said that tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses in the resort feared that very little of their industry would survive unless there was a change to the social distancing rules with two metres being reduced to one.
Dr Wallis said: “Welsh Government has said that it will encourage people to “Visit Wales later” but they have to ensure that there will be a “later” for many businesses who fear that they may not survive for long enough.
“Tourism is worth £4.8 billion annually to the Welsh economy so Welsh Government must ensure that these businesses are able to bounce back and help re-start the Welsh economy and protect jobs.
“It would appear that Wales will be in lockdown for longer than England so businesses need certainty about the timetable of an exit strategy from Welsh Government. We must be able to offer some hope to people when rules will be relaxed as well as ramping up of testing because at the moment only a quarter of the testing capacity is being used.”
Dr Wallis asked Mr Drakeford to commit to keeping the two metre rule under continual review so that it could be relaxed as soon as the science said it could and there was no unnecessary delay in scrapping a rule which is crippling many businesses.
He added: “There are calls for this distance to be lowered to one metre as in other countries – something we both know could make the difference to the viability of many businesses. Whist we all accept that this can only be done when it is safe to do so, it would be reassuring to know that the Welsh Government will be quick to act as soon as it can.”
A link to my Facebook page where you can see a copy of the letter that was sent to the First Minister is below;
