Clients plan a border crossing for a hair-do

SHOPS and hairdressers on the Welsh side of the border could be reopening ahead of their neighbours in England to take advantage of the Easter break.

Sending children back to school in a phased a way could give the Welsh Government more room to open up businesses which have been closed since before Christmas.

Anyone desperate for a spot of retail therapy or a long overdue haircut after months of lockdown might be able to simply nip over the border into Wales in a few weeks’ time.

But neither Government has given firm dates and Welsh ministers are keen to dampen down speculation that pubs and cafes could also open sooner.

Under the roadmap unveiled by Boris Johnson on Monday, nonessential shops, hairdressers and similar services will not open until April 12 at the very earliest.

But the Welsh Government will be looking at those sectors as part of its next 21-day review which will end on Friday, March 12.

And while this may be good news for Welsh border towns such as Monmouth and Chepstow, it would not be so good for business in the neighbouring Forest of Dean.

Unless First Minister Mark Drakeford brings back the five-mile travel rule, the Welsh towns could get a massive economic boost as local people and tourists head over the border. Clients are already contacting hairdressers on the Welsh side of the border and many have opened waiting lists. Some are preparing to work seven days a week to catch up on the backlog.

The Welsh Government says it only has the headroom to consider such measures because of the phased reopening of schools which means older pupils will not return until after Easter. In England, all pupils return to class on March 8.

Darren Childs, director of Helmet Hers hair salon in Monmouth, has told clients he will be rescheduling disappointed customers from December and January before taking new bookings from clients on each side of the border.

He said Welsh hairdressers need to make up for lost time because they have had longer lockdowns in the past which has led to some desperate clients crossing to Gloucestershire.

“All through lockdown Wales closed before England so we lost out on business,” he said.

“For instance we were locked down in the December 19 [week] which meant we lost a week’s revenue on our busiest week of the year but our English friends were able to work up to the December 24. It’s been very frustrating.”

Although the Welsh government has offered a glimmer of hope, he has learned to be cautious of promises and his online booking system remains suspended until a definite date is confirmed.

“Clients are chomping at the bit but without a firm date we just sit waiting,” he said.

Welsh shoppers are also chomping at the bit because of the Welsh Government’s definition of nonessential items is much stricter.

Welsh supermarkets and stores have have been taping off aisles containing clothes and other household goods because these are deemed non essential.