Lockdown ignored in ‘90-mile trip to get paint’
A MOTORIST on a 90-mile round trip “to collect some paint” was among those breaking lockdown rules at the weekend, writes Anna Lewis.
During the bank holiday weekend people were spotted sunbathing and enjoying the good weather despite pleas for the Welsh population to stay at home.
On Friday, First Minister Mark Drakeford extended the lockdown by three weeks but eased three rules from today. They include allowing people to exercise locally more than once a day and allowing garden centres to reopen if they are able to put two-metre social distancing rules in place.
Regulations will also be charged to allow local authorities to begin planning how to safely reopen libraries and recycling centres.
But it appears that while some areas of Wales remained quiet, others saw a few more people out and about than on past lockdown weekends.
In a series of updates, Dyfed Powys Police officers in Pembroke said they stopped one woman who said she “decided to go for a spin from Swansea, to see her son in Pembroke, via the A40.”
In another case a car heading west turned around when seeing police. It was later stopped in Llanddewi Velfrey, on its way back east. The occupants said they had “come from Llanelli for a spin”, officers said.
And a vehicle from Ammanford was stopped at Penblewin, where its occupants said they were heading to Haverfordwest to collect some paint – a round trip of between 80 and 90 miles.
Police also issued a warning against people displaying “offensive signs” discouraging people from visiting the area.
In a statement, they said: “North
Wales Police are aware that in some parts of north Wales, signs have been posted, with the intention of discouraging people from travelling to the area during the current Covid-19 travel restrictions and social distancing guidance.
“Some of these signs have been abusive and offensive in nature, and are clearly designed to cause offence because of the inflammatory nature of the language involved. Such signs are not appropriate and where they are aimed at being offensive and not simply advisory messages, they will be removed by Police and seized as evidence of potential offences.”