VIEWS FROM THE VALE’S LOCKDOWN
“I WISHED it wouldn’t come, I hoped it wouldn’t come, but we’ve just got to put up with it.”
Leonard Baylis was discussing the new lockdown measures imposed across another swathe of South Wales yesterday.
His sentiments have been echoed by many across the latest three counties to be placed under local lockdown.
The Vale of Glamorgan, along with Torfaen and Neath Port Talbot, were all placed under more significant restrictions from 6pm yesterday, in an effort to stop the growing number of coronavirus cases in those areas.
They joined Cardiff, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT), Newport, Swansea and Llanelli, which have all also been placed under local lockdown restrictions.
The restrictions mean people are no longer allowed to enter or leave these areas without a reasonable excuse, and that people are not allowed to meet indoors with people they don’t live with.
They will not be able to form, or be in, extended households, meaning meeting indoors, whether that be in houses, in a pub or elsewhere, with anyone you don’t live with is not allowed unless you have a good reason, such as providing care to a vulnerable person.
The restrictions add to measures in place across Wales including rules that mean all licensed premises have to stop serving alcohol at 10pm, and everyone over 11 is required to wear a face covering in enclosed public spaces.
In Barry yesterday, just hours before the new restrictions came into force in the Vale of Glamorgan, there were mixed opinions, although people were generally accepting of the move.
Robert Reynolds, 52, backed the measures.
He said: “It’s good. They should have kept it longer. They lifted it too soon.”
Speaking about what lockdown was like the first time, he added: “Horrible. To be locked in the house. I rely on my carer to take me out. The lockdown should have been a lot longer. They shouldn’t have lifted it.”
Jim Morgan, 56, from Barry, said: “Basically they have brought it on themselves. Too many people are not listening. They’re not wearing masks thinking it’s not protecting anyone and all I say to them is well go and tell that to the nurses and doctors – do you think they wear masks for any reason or just for fun? There’s obviously some form of protection.
“If everybody wore the masks – if I wore one and you wore one – then it stops me giving you anything and you giving me anything.
“Too many people think they don’t work and everything like that, and this is why Covid is escalating.”
Prior to yesterday’s move, the Vale of Glamorgan stood alone among a swathe of neighbouring South Wales counties already subject to the local lockdowns, including its bordering counties of Cardiff, Bridgend and RCT.
Mark Morgan, 36, from Barry, said: “They’re right to go into their own local lockdown. You seen we were literally encased around Wales so it’s easier to go into lockdown, put this virus off us and happy days.
“We go into lockdown at 6pm tonight - get your essentials, shops can stay open so you can go to the shops and people just need to abide by the laws by not going to other people’s houses. That’s all it boils down to at the end of the day.”
Judith Fletcher, 65, and Stan Fletcher, 72, have been out in Barry today.
Judith said: “People aren’t sticking to the rules. It’s like here, for instance, you’ve got one way down and one way up and nobody sticks to that.
“You know sometimes you can cross over and you go ‘oh wrong side’ and you cross over but people are just walking down and you think what’s the point in trying to distance ourselves when you have nobody else doing it? It is maddening. Lockdown should have been done a long time ago.”
Meanwhile, some 30-odd miles away in Neath town centre, many went about their daily business just hours before the measures were imposed, and there was a sense of calm.
But the feeling among them concerning the forthcoming restrictions was mixed.
Many supported the move, including Leonard Baylis.
He said: “It’s for the best, I just hope the rules don’t get more serious.”
Sylvia Dyer said she had faith in the advice that was being issued by the Government, and expressed her com
passion for traders.
“I just feel sorry for the business people, I do,” she said.
“I think if everybody listened to what the Prime Minister says, I think we’ll be fine, I think we’ll get over it.
“We’ve got to feel safe, and I feel safe when I’m out and in the shops because everybody is listening.”
Mrs Dyer will be having to celebrate her grandson Isaac’s 10th birthday differently today because of the restrictions.
She said: “Obviously now when I see him I’ll have to stay out in the garden with an umbrella. That’s basically what I’ll do. That’s the only thing you can do. Stay safe, and the children.” Alan Barkus also backed the move. “It’s definitely the right measure to take,” he said.
“It’s a serious situation. It’s a pity it has flared up again because we were doing so well and I’m peeved really that we’ve come to this situation again - for how long, God knows, you know?
“I just hope we’ll all do the right thing and we’ll come back down, down, down to normal, hopefully.”
Neath Market traders also weighed in with their thoughts.
Brian Warlow, owner of Neath Market Health Stall spoke of how he felt the mood was in the town.
“It seems quite positive to be absolutely honest,” he said.
“We’ve got to take the advice of the experts, they must know what they’re talking about surely.
“I have been busier today than I have been any day since last March. I don’t know if people are worrying about stocking up or anything. Specifically things like D3 are popular which everyone is taking for Covid now anyway and it’s just been hammering off the shelves.”
Paul Cole, of Paul Cole Quality Butchers, felt little could be achieved by the latest measures, however.
“Personally I feel it’s a waste of time,” he said.
“I think it’s just going over the top. “If everybody abided by the rules and stuck to the rules we would be fine.”