‘It’s only going to get businesses react to
IT IS empty in Merthyr indoor market on Monday afternoon as local lockdown measures are announced.
For traders and businesses in the building, the news is the last thing they want to hear after months of lockdown followed by construction work right outside.
While a number of stalls remain closed or empty, those up and running usually expect customers not just from within the borough, but from Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend, and Caerphilly – all areas either already in lockdown or as of 6pm tonight.
Farah Aziz has only recently reopened her market shop Be-a-Beaut again after undergoing an operation in August. She believes the decision to make masks mandatory in shops in Wales came too late – and that people are still not listening.
She said: “People, especially vulnerable people, are scared of coming inside the market and going out as well. Footfall is low, but you can understand it as people usually use public transport. Not too many people are coming out which will have a knock-on effect on business.
“I have clients coming from RCT, Cardiff, Caerphilly, all the areas in lockdown. In terms of turnover, it will have a great effect. We had four months of lockdown, one month of construction and I had an operation so I haven’t had a chance to open.
“I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, there could be queues outside.”
Thomas Price is manager at Profile clothing shop in the St Tydfil Shopping Centre. He says while business was picking up, the past two weeks have been quieter since other lockdowns nearby took their toll.
He said: “You could see it coming with the surrounding areas. Business had started to get a bit better, but over the last two weeks it dropped down a bit. You do find a lot of people come to Merthyr from RCT and other areas.
“It will probably be quieter again over the next couple of weeks.”
During yesterday’s Welsh Government press conference, Health Minister Vaughan Gething said the rising infection rate in Merthyr was linked to two main clusters, one linked to a large employer and the other a pub.
However, two new, smaller clusters have also been identified.
It means that from 6pm tonight extended households are no longer permitted in the local authority and people can only meet those from other households outdoors.
Pubs and licensed premises must all shut at 11pm at the latest, while people must wear a face covering in shops if they are aged over 11.
In Merthyr Tydfil town centre, Kelly and her daughter have just returned from the mobile testing centre at Castle Street car park after her son started to feel unwell.
She is thankful she was able to get a test for him quickly after hearing of her friends’ struggle to get one arranged for their families.
Kelly also cares for her mother in Abertillery, who is high-risk.
She said: “It took four weeks for my mother, who is classed as priority, to get a home delivery, but if I do click and collect it takes a day, so I hope this won’t impact her too much
and that I’m still able to do that. I have been expecting lockdown. I’m surprised it took as long as it did.”
Valerie Lewis, 73, from Quaker’s
Yard, is also taking a moment to sit down and enjoy the sunshine.
She was shielding during the previous lockdown and said if she has to
again, she he will will.
Valerie said: “They did it quicker than last time. I don’t think this is the second wave, this is still from the last time time. People are not listening to what they t are saying.
“I don’t go out much anyway, wh where I go for bingo and to so socialise is completely closed an anyway. The only place I go is shopping and if this carrie ries on I won’t do that.
“We go to Aldi in Treforest as the aisles are wider than in tow town. There they’re so narrow you’r you’re brushing into people anyway.way.” way.”
Dean Collins, from Troedyrhiw, lives wit with his elderly mother. He has c come out today before tomo tomorrow’s measures come into place to get some suppli plies before they rely on their lo local shop during lockdown.
He is a carpenter but due to the pandemic he remains on furlough. He said: “It’s a wo worrying time for my mother, it’s a worrying time for everyone. Luckily, we only live six doors away a from the local shop.” Ieuan Ross and Taryn Hale are both 22 y years old. They were both expectin expecting the announcement when it cam came through.
Ieu Ieuan said: “Young people just kind of want to go out and ha have fun. As soon as it became av available they just think it’s ba back to normal but it’s not. Bu But there’s a lot of older peopl ple as well, they were the first to hit the streets.”
W While Ieuan doesn’t go to the pub, p he has no issue with them remaining open during local lockdown. lock He said: “Pubs are somewhe somewhere people go to relax and de de-stress stress and it’s hard to take that away for people who enjoy it.”