Four more businesses are caught breaching coronavirus safety rules

COUNCIL officials have caught four more businesses breaching coronavirus rules in Bridgend county borough, writes Hannah Neary.

Officers from the Shared Regulatory Service (SRS) temporarily closed two car washes and warned a petrol station and convenience store they must follow the rules or also face closure.

On Monday, December 21, enforcement officers closed Bridgend Wash & Valet, Tremains Rd, Bridgend, for staying open after the alert level 4 lockdown rules were in place.

They also closed IMO Car Wash, Picton Court Retail Park, Bridgend on Tuesday December 22 for the same reason.

According to Wales’ alert level four restrictions, only essential businesses can remain open, such as chemists and supermarkets.

Non-essential businesses must remain closed until the law changes or Wales (or areas of Wales) moves down into the lower alert levels where other businesses can reopen.

On Wednesday, December 23, officers gave Premier Stores, Oxford St, Pontycymer, Bridgend an improvement notice because staff failed to wear face masks.

On the same day, they also issued an improvement notice to Pont y Rhyl Filling Station, Bridgend for the same reason.

The SRS, a partnership between South Wales Police and Bridgend, Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan councils, carries out checks on licensed premises to ensure they comply with government guidelines.

Businesses are usually given 48 hours to comply with the terms of an improvement notice. Failure to comply can result in closure, a fixed penalty notice or being taken to court.

According to the SRS, they have issued 34 improvement notices to businesses in Bridgend County Borough and temporarily closed four for breaching Welsh Government coronavirus rules.

So far, no businesses in the area have been permanently closed for breaking the rules.