LOCKED DOWN & LOCKED OUT
■ Rising cases of coronavirus across Bridgend county see new measures being implemented ■ Caravan park guests told to leave suddenly as local lockdowns put resort into ‘hibernation’ ■ Warning park closure will ‘affect many jobs and companies’ which rely
SOME people are concerned – but most are not surprised at all.
That is the general feeling around Bridgend town centre minutes after the news that the area was going into local lockdown.
The announcement follows a sharp rise in positive cases within the county borough – up from 17% to 37.4% in less than a week – without any obvious cluster sources that might explain why this is happening.
Bridgend, Newport, Blaenau Gwent, and Merthyr Tydfil council areas went into local lockdowns at 6pm on Tuesday, September 22.
On the streets of Bridgend, people didn’t seem too shocked by the news.
Ray Adams, 67, from Cefn Glas was having a browse around the shops when he heard the news. He said that it has left him concerned.
“It’s bad, it’s a backwards step but I wasn’t surprised. It was inevitable that this was going to happen.”
When asked why he thinks a lockdown has happened he believes it’s partly due to some young people partying and he also believes that the lockdown could have an impact on the town.
He added: “People are not taking it seriously.
“This is not good for the economy.”
Bronwyn Lewis, 22, from Brackla admitted that she doesn’t think she will be able to handle another lockdown.
“I couldn’t really handle the first lockdown. I’m pretty scared as I’ve just come back to college and
I don’t know what this will mean for college now.
“I couldn’t see any of my friends as they were from different areas, now it’s eased I’ve been able to see them but now I won’t be able to see them.
“That’s my mental release, seeing friends.
“I’m not surprised there’s another lockdown. You just have to come here on the weekends for the pubs and the nightlife, then you would understand.”
Jean Griffiths works in the town centre and she believes that businesses could struggle again.
The 64-year-old believes that the lockdown is for the best.
“It has to be done, it was just a matter of time with Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf.
“I think this has happened because a lot of people haven’t been keeping to the rules.
“People don’t realise how serious it is. I think businesses in Bridgend will suffer again as they will be afraid to come out. The shopping area is struggling now as it’s quiet anyway.”
Partners Billie Cornwall, 19, and Barri Miller, 24, both work in the hospitality industry.
Barri said: “I think Bridgend needs to stick to what the government are saying. I’ve worked a lot of nights over the weekends and I have seen certain places not sticking to the social distancing rules.”
While Billie added: “We should have gone into lockdown a month ago, I think young people are very much to blame.”
However, Stuart McGarrigle doesn’t agree with the local lockdown.
The 37-year-old said: “The people who are at risk, I would like to think they are adults and can take self-responsibility and isolate, the government and the council should look after them while the rest of us keep the nation going.
“I expected that this would happen.
“I think the deaths resulting from these lockdowns and fear will eclipse the virus itself.
“I know a lot of people have family-run businesses in Bridgend and they are struggling.”
Council leader Huw David said: “We need the help of everyone in Bridgend county borough to follow the rules on wearing masks, washing hands, using sanitiser and keeping socially distant in order to stop the virus from spreading further.”