FIRST MINISTER Mark Drakeford has lifted the five mile travel restriction in Wales as of today (Mon Jul 6).
Prior to the easing, residents in Wales were unable to travel more than five miles from their homes with the ‘stay local’ restriction still in force.
The easing of the restriction will see Wales welcome back visitors to its beaches and countryside for the first time in over three months.
The new measures are said to “pave the way” for the tourism sector, which will begin to re-open from July 11, but Mr Drakeford has made it clear this will only happen “if conditions allow”.
The First Minister has urged those intending to visit beaches, countrysides and beauty hotspots to do so safely – by protecting others, protecting the environment, and following the social distancing rules.
Saturday (July 4) saw the re-opening of pubs, restaurants and cafes open in outdoor spaces in England.
The Welsh Government has set a date of July 13 for the re-opening of pubs, restaurants and cafes outdoors in Wales, this will only go ahead providing there is no spike in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases.
As the five-mile travel restriction is lifted in Wales, Pembrokeshire County Council has moved to reassure the local community and visitors that it will continue to work hard to inform and support them.
“Our communities will start to welcome visitors this week,” said Cllr David Simpson, Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council. “Although the public have a huge responsibility to act responsibly – as consistently stressed by senior politicians both in Westminster and the Senedd – we as a local authority also have an important role to play.
“We are working closely with partners behind the scenes to make sure that we have procedures and measures in place to ensure the unlocking process is as safe as possible.”
Among the measures are a specific team being brought together by the Council and key partners to coordinate intelligence and information to monitor and manage any day to day issues, using data from the tourism sector, traffic measurements, and various teams on the ground.
Other measures include the production of a promotional film by Visit Pembrokeshire to welcome back tourists – with useful information on the concerns faced by local residents and constructive suggestions of what visitors can do to help.
“The Welsh Government’s Stay Local rule was kept in place to help every part of Wales manage the spread of the virus and properly welcome back visitors safely,” said Cllr Simpson.
“Visitors are an important part of our economy and so it’s important that local communities are welcoming towards them as we safely open up more of the visitor and tourism economy.”
Other measures include the use of electronic road signs (including the ones approaching Pembrokeshire and those in the County) to provide useful and relevant information to anyone travelling. Electronic signage in bus stops will also be used and extra signs are being considered.
A street trading arrangement has already been put in place to support café culture once restrictions ease, and an operational document has been produced to inform the local authority’s work for reopening the public realm – including facilities like car parks and public toilets.
Highways improvements are being considered including the potential re-allocation of road spaces, thanks to grant funding from the Welsh Government for sustainable transport solutions in response to Covid-19. The Council has worked up proposals for reallocation of road space in a few key towns which it will be sharing with communities as soon as possible.
The NHS Wales Test Trace Protect service is also well underway across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion to track the virus and give extra protection to communities.
Cllr Simpson said it was vital to remember that coronavirus has not gone away, despite some restrictions being eased by Welsh Government. “It continues to be as important as ever to maintain social distancing, keep washing your hands regularly, and to self-isolate if you or someone in your household has symptoms,” he said.
“Pembrokeshire and the rest of Wales is safely and gradually reopening. Together, we’ve made some great progress. But we’re still not back to normal and there are still risks. It’s important that we respect each other, our communities, and the local environment.”
