Exclusion of ward ‘baffling’
THE exclusion of one of Bangor’s most populated wards from the city’s lockdown zone has “baffled” residents and left some local politicians mystified.
The Welsh Government imposed tough restrictions on eight wards - Gareth, Hirael, Menai, Deiniol, Marchog, Glyder, Hendre and Dewi - which came into force on Saturday night.
But city councillors say the exclusion of the well-populated Pentir ward, which includes Penrhosgarnedd, is baffling.
That exception, eight city councillors say, has caused “a great deal of confusion”.
It means in practice that people living on one side of street, for example Penrhos Road near the hospital, are outside the zone. But neighbours on the other side are included in it.
The issue has been highlighed by councillors; Menna Baines (Pentir); Elin Walker Jones (Glyder); Catrin Wager and Mair Rowlands (Menai); Huw Wyn Jones (Garth); Gareth Roberts (Dewi) and Steve Collings (Deiniol).
They said: “This creates all kinds of unnecessary complexities in terms of shopping (the Caernarfon Road retail park is within the lockdown area ), accessing vital services and green spaces which are essential for wellbeing, and so on.
“In some areas, it means that people on one side of the road are in lockdown whilst their neighbours from across the road are not.”
The councillors say they have received “many enquiries” from constituents about the current boundary of the local lockdown area and share the concerns which have been expressed about the way the city has been divided.
They say they were not part of the decision to divide Bangor in this manner and find the “logic questionable”.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The wards were proposed by (the) Prevention and Surveillance Group which is managing the outbreak.”
A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said they have tried to make the distinctions clear to residents: “Large yellow signs have been put up at the roadside at the exact boundaries of the Zone along all the main roads into the city.
“As it stands, the Bangor Health Protection Zone does not include the large and more rural Pentir Gwynedd Council Ward which incorporates the Parc Menai Business Park, Ysbyty Gwynedd and a small number of streets and newer housing estates on the western approaches to Bangor along Penrhos Road.
“We are aware of the concerns that have been raised, and consideration is being given to whether any amendments are needed to the health zone boundaries.
“In the meantime, we would urge residents to visit www.gwynedd.llyw. cymru/bangorzone and type their post code into the post code checker if they are unsure if their property falls within the zone area.”