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Welsh ‘Fire-break lockdown’ to end on November 9, Mark Drakeford confirms

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  • Pubs and restaurants reopen
  • English lockdown announcement raises new questions
  • For the two week period that follows November 9, the national rules will be implemented across Wales

MARK DRAKEFORD today confirmed Wales will exit the ‘fire break’ lockdown on November 9.

The First Minister relayed the Welsh Government’s decision during a press conference at lunchtime on Monday, November 2.

Mr Drakeford said the unexpected announcement of an English lockdown on Saturday meant the Welsh Government had to take account of what Boris Johnson’s decision means for Wales.
Ian Price, CBI Wales Director, said: “Firms under severe strain will be relieved. For those in the hard-hit hospitality sector, the next step is to get clear guidance on how businesses can re-open again as swiftly and easily as possible.

“The First Minister has placed great emphasis on personal compliance and changing individual behaviours as we continue to live with the pandemic. Having already invested significant sums in making workplaces safe for staff and customers, business stands ready to play its part in making that a success.”

TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS LIFTED

When he announced the end of travel restrictions within Wales, the First Minister said that no travel could take place from Wales to England unless it was essential or had a reasonable excuse.
He also emphasised that the Welsh Government relied on people in Wales limiting their travel to essential journeys only.

Steps would be taken, Mr Drakeford said, to stop people from England coming to Wales to avoid the English lockdown.

Existing travel restrictions to curtail travel from England to Wales enforced by Welsh Government laws would be mirrored over the English border during the month-long lockdown there, Mark Drakeford explained.

Welsh travel restrictions end on November 9. English restrictions on travel come in on Thursday, November 5.

The overlap between the two periods should – both governments hope – prevent any efforts to ‘break’ the lockdown by trying to get around the rules.

DON’T LOOK TO BEND THE RULES

The First Minister emphasised ending the lockdown and making sure a further lockdown was unnecessary largely boiled down to people abiding by the spirit of the restrictions which would follow its lifting.

He warned against people trying to find ways of getting around the restrictions and said people should do the minimum to keep themselves and others safe from potential harm.
Mark Drakeford emphasised that a great deal of responsibility rested upon individuals’ preparedness to avoid selfish and self-serving actions.

He said: “Rather than us asking what we can or can’t do, we need to ask ourselves what should we be doing to keep our families safe.

“Government rules and regulations are here to help. But the real strength we have is in the choices we make and the actions we take together.

BACK TO WORK

Mr Drakeford said all businesses forced to close throughout the firebreak lockdown could reopen on November 9.

He encouraged as many workers as possible to continue to work from home.

Because of the English lockdown announcement, the Welsh Government will continue to consider what arrangements will be made for hospitality and tourism businesses, although he said they would also be allowed to reopen.

A formal announcement in respect of hospitality businesses will be made as soon as the Welsh Cabinet have a chance to unpick the impact of the English announcement on hospitality businesses near the border.

Mark Drakeford said the decision was complicated because of the length of Wales’ ‘porous border’ with England.

He wanted to avoid using Police resources to control breaches of English travel restrictions to use pubs, hotels, restaurants and leisure facilities on the Welsh side of the border.
All Schools and places of worship in Wales will reopen next Monday.

CARE HOMES

Mr Drakeford accepted that visits to relatives in care homes were important to the well-being of homes’ residents.

He expressed hope that a new rapid-response test, would allow visits to take place.

The First Minister said one new test being trialled in Wales could provide test results within half an hour.

He suggested that test’s administration, at a drive-through centre (for example), before a planned visit would allow visits to relatives in care homes to go ahead, depending on each home’s policy on visits.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Mr Drakeford recognised the strain lockdown put on families in Wales and announced a relaxation of restrictions on meeting with other members of your own family.

People should only meet with their ‘bubble’ in their own home and only two households will be able to form a ‘bubble’.

If one person from either household develops symptoms, everyone should immediately self-isolate

Up to 15 people can take part in an organised indoors activity and up to 30 in an organised activity outdoors, providing all social distancing, hand hygiene and other COVID safety measures are followed.

With schools returning from next Monday, young people will be able to meet with their friends in school but not within each others’ homes unless they are part of the same two-household ‘bubble’.

News

Rugby Weekly – Tenby’s promotion push continues

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It’s crunch time for all rugby clubs around the county, whether promotion is their aim or fighting relegation or even just trying to improve their league position, it’s now or never. 

Last weekend saw an important win for Fishguard in division two west which should put any relegation fears to bed completely. James Griffiths added an impressive 18 points for the Seagulls as they defeated Nantgaredig 33-19. 

Elsewhere in the second division, Milford were beaten 32-8 by a good Lampeter outfit. The Mariners are still a little too close for comfort with the drop zone but should have enough quality to see them safe. 

At the other end of the table Tenby sit in second place and have played fewer games than leaders St Clears and third place Lampeter. They won impressively again last weekend, beating Pontyberem 64-19 at Haywood Lane. Fletcher Broadhurst impressed with two tries as did Hywel Baker who also grabbed himself a brace. Another excellent performance in an outstanding season so far in which promotion would be the absolute icing on the cake. 

In Division Three West, Pembroke were well beaten by Laugharne 74-15 in which the outstanding Liam Price and Nico Setaro both crossed the whitewash 4 teams a piece. The latter also added 7 successful conversions. 

There was a local derby at Pill Parks where Llangwm hosted Pembroke Dock Quins and it was an exciting clash. The visitors won narrowly 28-23, Craig Barnett and Gethin Bradney both scored two tries for the Quins. The Wasps battled hard and will be proud of their performance, Gethin Thomas impressed for the hosts with two tries of his own but it wasn’t enough to secure the points. 

St David’s hosted the high flying Cardigan outfit and were unable to score in reply to the visitors 20 points, with it ending 20-0. The Saints however won’t be losing too much sleep over it as they have had a great season so far. 

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Business

Stephen Crabb leads inquiry on retaining community bank services  

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PRESELI Pembrokeshire MP, and Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee Stephen Crabb is leading an inquiry in Parliament that will investigate the closure of high street banks in Wales, as well as access to cash.

In November 2023, Pembrokeshire saw the closure of Lloyds Bank in St Davids, and in the coming months both Barclays Bank and Halifax in Haverfordwest are set to close. In recent years, Wales has experienced a rapid decline in the number of high street banking services available to the public. Already in 2024, 23 high street bank closures have been announced in Wales, while automated teller machines (ATMs) declined by nearly a quarter between 2018 and 2023.

The Committee willconsider how declining high street banking services are impacting vulnerable people and small businesses across Wales, who are often more reliant on cash than digital banking. It will also examine how Wales is being affected by the loss of high street bank services, and whether the problem is worse in Wales than other parts of the UK.

Mr Crabb is a staunch advocate for retaining community banking facilities, especially in rural communities like Pembrokeshire where many local branches remain the only source of face-to-face banking provision for miles.

Recently Mr Crabb challenged Barclays Bank senior management on their decision to close the bank branch in Haverfordwest– a move that will see Barclays not only pull out of the county town, but means they won’t have a branch left anywhere in Pembrokeshire. He has also engaged with LINK – the UK’s largest cash machine network – and continues to campaign on the basis that a Banking Hub is established and that ATM machines should be retained or installed, especially in areas worst affected by the closures.  

Following the launch of the inquiry, MP Crabb added: “It is really sad to see so many banks across Wales closing as online banking grows in popularity. Despite the advantages of online banking, for a rural community with an ageing population like Pembrokeshire, bank branches hold huge importance as they offer face-to-face customer service.”

“I am acutely aware of the inconvenience that the bank closures locally have already caused following hundreds of replies from constituents to my ‘online banking survey’ ”

“I am looking forward to gathering further evidence on this subject through the committee’s inquiry, and will continue to put pressure on the relevant stakeholders to ensure that adequate alternative provisions are made through the establishment of banking hubs as well as the instalment of ATM machines where necessary.”

“In this inquiry, we are particularly keen to hear from those likely to be directly affected by the shift away from cash and physical banks. I encourage anyone with first-hand experience of losing banking services to give evidence to the Committee”

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Business

Trains resume between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock as works end

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TRAIN services resumed this morning (Thursday 28 March) after ten days of essential round-the-clock work to upgrade track and drainage between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock.

The railway was closed from Monday 18 March to Wednesday 27 March to allow Network Rail teams to replace more than 200 metres of track and 300 tonnes of ballast (track stones) between Pembroke station and Pembroke Dock.

Work to improve the drainage between Narbeth and Kilgetty stations was also completed at the same time.

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “This essential work in Pembrokeshire demonstrates our commitment to improving the reliability of the service we provide to passengers along our route.

“We know that replacing the track can be disruptive and very noisy, so I would like to thank the residents of Pembroke for their patience while our team carried out this crucial work.”

Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at Transport for Wales said: “We’re pleased that our colleagues in Network Rail have completed this essential work and that Transport for Wales rail services resumed today.

“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this work has progressed and look forward to welcoming passengers back in time for the Easter weekend.”

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