Trader dismay and bafflement as city put in lockdown:
Dismayed shops fear they ‘won’t last to Christmas’ as Bangor enters lockdown
BANGOR leaders sent an important message as the city entered local lockdown at 6pm on Friday.
The measures came into effect following a rise in coronavirus cases, which is linked to people socialising and “young people and students”.
A joint statement from Plaid Cymru’s Siân Gwenllian MS and Hywel Williams MP for Arfon (pictured), urged everybody to follow the rules.
It said: “These new hyper-local restrictions for the city of Bangor were sadly inevitable and in direct response to data showing an increase in cases within the city itself.
“We also understand that Bangor University has detailed preparations in place.
“We would appeal to everyone to respect these new restrictions rictions and further urge local people across the remainder der of Arfon to take extra a care.
“Businesses affected by these new restrictions will now need the necessary government support to offset the adverse impact on trade”.
Wrexham, Flintshire, e, Denbighshire and Conwy nwy are currently under stricter tricter measures as cases continue ntinue to rise sharply, particularly in the north east.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said they were set to continue beyond next week’s review.
He also indicated a close eye was being kept on Gwynedd where cases have also been increasing, but which is not currently under local restrictions outside Bangor.
The latest Public Health Wales (PHW) heat maps show Covid-19 cases have more than tripled across North Wales over the past two weeks.
Bangor’s independent business owners fear the local lockdown may mean some “won’t last until Christmas”.
The Welsh Government placed the Gwynedd city under hyper-local restrictions at 6pm last night following a rise in coronavirus cases but with footfall already down dramatically some are already thinking the worst.
The Daily Dai Post spoke to business ow owners in the city’s two biggest bigge hubs – Upper Bangor and Bangor High Street Str – just before the restrictions re came into force. fo
Jeff Hopson runs the Mudshark record shop on the High Street. He said it has been a “pa “particularly difficult week week”.
“I had h closed this shop for six mon months so I could hometutormy tutor my chil children. I was apprehensive about reopening because of the new rules and not knowing if I could keep people safe or not.
“For the first two weeks we were open, it was fairly busy. But this week has changed dramatically and I think this is all down to the fact that Bangor is going under a local lockdown. “We have probably down a third of what we usually do.
“I feel angry and frustrated about the situation, and the fact that the scaffolding on this part of the High Street is still there doesn’t help.” Jeff has decided to open his shop for three days a week to “concentrate the footfall we get”.
“A fair bit of our customers are students, who I have nothing but praise for how they’ve been when they enter this shop – they’ve been really good.”
A few yards down the road is the Antoniazzi Penguin Cafe.
Its owner Nick Antoniazzi said: “I spoke to a customer the other day, who has lived near the high street all her life, and she told me she has never seen this street so quiet.
“Footfall has deteriorated and I fear there is no return. Covid has been the final nail in the coffin and it’s a very difficult time for us all.
“I can’t blame the students; in fact, I feel sorry for them. They’re only kids and they’re being locked up in their rooms.
“Realistically, they should have staggered their timetable, so that first years would come here and self-isolate for two weeks, and then you’d bring the second and third years and do the same. This could’ve potentially decreased the amount of Covid cases we have here.
“I feel nervous about the whole situation here. I have staff that I need to look after and stock that needs to be used. We can’t let this virus win, we need to come together; support our communities and support our local high streets.”
Eleri Owen, the owner of Caffi Clena in Upper Bangor, agrees.
Ms Owen opened her cafe near the main student hub of the Gwynedd city in February – two weeks before the nationwide lockdown period was announced.
Hoping that business would pick up as restrictions were lifted, Eleri revealed that the challenges she faces have intensified. “The streets here as so quiet and it has had a massive impact on my business. There’s just no one on the streets. For the last two weeks, I have struggled immensely and can’t see myself lasting until Christmas. I am absolutely heartbroken.
“It’s so strange because we are all going through the same thing yet it has a different effect on all of us personally.
“This business is my life and at times I have felt quite lonely during this pandemic, I am losing all hope.
“People need to support their local businesses, the big brands are doing OK. I know money is tight at the moment, but if people are going to spend, I would advise that they consider supporting their local businesses. Only then will our communities thrive.”
Police officers were stationed by the roundabout on Holyhead Road and the turning for Maesgeirchen on the A5 to ensure that anyone travelling in or out of the area was “complying with the stricter local Covid guidelines”.
NWP Bangor and Bethesda said: “We are doing this to help ensure the safety of our residents, and would like to thank the vast majority of people who continue to act responsibly in these challenging times.”