Wales eases out of lockdown - baby steps start here

Rachel Evans, Director of Countryside Alliance Wales, has written a response to the latest announcement from the Welsh First Minister in relation to the current lockdown.

First Minister for Wales Mark Drakeford has today outlined his plans to ease Wales out of lockdown. There are no great changes and no big steps. Wales is easing out cautiously - very cautiously.

Disappointingly, there is no mention of any immediate plans to help the hospitality sector to prepare for any sort of re-opening, only a half-hearted offer that the First Minister and his Government will look at the sector again mid-April.

In a statement to Walesonline the First Minister said; "The further away you go from today, the more uncertain things become. We will be considering in the second half of April the first reopening of hospitality where hospitality can operate outdoors."

He went on to say: "It will not be that 'no hospitality is operating' or 'all hospitality operating'. In the same step-by-step way we are bringing children back to school, we will take the same approach to hospitality as well."

The Countryside Alliance #UnlockInn campaign has seen hundreds of people sign up in support of the safe re-opening of pubs and we are delighted that the Welsh Government have heard the voices of our members and supporters and will be offering the hospitality sector a financial package. However, the much-needed roadmap to recovery is missing. We will continue to press for this with your support and the support of Senedd members who have pledged their support for the campaign.

From Monday, hairdressers can open their doors and up to four people - plus children - can meet from two households in the garden. This I know, will be hugely welcomed by many people across Wales as they have felt the burden of isolation since the December lockdown.

The Welsh Government are tentatively looking at opening self-catering accommodation, which will include hotels that offer a complete room service option with no sharing of facilities, on Monday 22^nd March. However, he has confirmed that bookings should not be taken from people living outside of Wales and that flights leaving Cardiff, and the prospect of holidays abroad, will not be considered before mid-May.

Other close contact services will be considered two weeks later and there is a strong hint that only some gyms, namely those with adequate ventilation, might be able to open their doors once again. It was also noted that organised outdoor activities for children can resume from the 22^nd March.

For many of us, the countryside is of course our outdoor gym and the First Minister announced that the 'stay at home' rule will end on Saturday 13^th March and a 'stay local' rule would come into play.

We seem to be on another road to confusion, with a 'stay local' rule being up to the individual and their circumstances to interpretate. On BBC News this morning, the First Minister's opinion was that a 'stay local' rule would mean around five miles however, he acknowledged that for those living in remote areas, "local" could be up to 20 miles. It will be up to the individual and their circumstances to interpret the rule.

The confusion and frustrations continue as the First Minister announces that supermarkets can resume selling non-essential goods from 22^nd March but non-essential shops cannot open until 12^th April. When asked by Walesonline about the fairness of the approach, the First Minister said "I think that is a fair point and I worry about it." He continued, saying: "I know there is a three week gap and I will be announcing £150 million of additional support for those businesses."

In his announcement today he has confirmed that the hospitality sector will benefit from the additional £150 million pound fund.