PLEASE STAY AT HOME AND SAVE LIVES
Politicians’ plea after fury over huge visitor numbers to tourist hotspots and second homes... ahead of UK lockdown:
CARAVAN parks, campsites and popular beauty spots will be forced to close in Wales in a bid to control the spread of Covid-19.
In a statement on Monday afternoon, First Minister Mark Drakeford also said local councils would be asked to enforce the closure of pubs across Wales, following reports some had flouted the shutdown that was introduced on Saturday.
Access to Snowdon and other hotspots across all of Wales’ national parks would be closed off, he said.
The move comes after thousands of tourists flocked to Snowdon and other North Wales beauty spots at the weekend.
Banners and signs urging tourists to stay away during the coronavirus crisis emerged along main routes in the region – produced by locals furious over the influx.
Mr Drakeford said: “Wales is a beautiful country and attracts millions of visitors every year – but now is not the time for unnecessary journeys.
“We want people to come to Wales when the threat of coronavirus has passed.
“Today, we are taking action to close caravan parks, campsites and some of our most recognisable visitor sites to keep people safe and to reduce the pressure on our NHS.
“My message is simple. Please stay at home and save lives.”
The new measures follow days of political pressure which saw several major holiday parks and accommodation providers voluntarily close.
Anglesey and Gwynedd councils had urged them to turn away tourists – citing a lack of hospital capacity in North Wales.
The new Welsh Government decree will see tourists asked to return to their homes as camps and holiday parks close – barring “exceptional circumstances”.
The move will not affect people who permanently live in park homes.
Emyr Williams, lead officer for National Parks Wales, said: “Following this announcement we will be closing access to key hotspots such as Snowdon, and I know my colleagues in the Brecon Beacons and Pembrokeshire Coast National Parks are taking similar action, for example closing routes to both Sugar Loaf and Pen-y-Fan.”
The park authority said it saw Snowdon’s “busiest ever visitor day in living memory” on Saturday.
Snowdonia National Park Authority had already said it would close all its main car parks and was also exploring options to close down the most popular mountains and sites if the situation continued. There will be no parking available for access to the most popular sites in Snowdonia including: Snowdon, Ogwen, Cadair Idris, Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake), Aran (two car parks closed), Carneddau, Glyderau and Nantlle Ridge.
Anglesey MP Virginia Crosbie said: “I am very pleased that as a result of lobbying from me and other colleagues in both the UK Parliament and the Welsh Assembly, the Welsh Government has decided to take this action.
“It is vital that people stick to the advice of the UK Government, to stay in their homes, thereby protecting the NHS and saving lives. As I said in my letter to the Prime Minister, when this pandemic is over, Anglesey and its beauty will still be here for all to enjoy and visitors will be welcome as always.”