What the people in Llanelli had to say about the local lockdown
PEOPLE and businesses in Llanelli said the restrictions had hit them hard.
Ataf Hameed, who has run the mobile phone shop in the market for the past four years, said: “I have made one sale all day today. Usually I would have a page full of sales by now. It’s been terrible and people don’t know what to do. A lot of my customers come from the rest of Carmarthenshire and things were just starting to pick up again when the town lockdown hit.”
Carl May, 54, has just moved to Llanelli from Norwich and says all his family live there.
He said: “It’s lonely, I don’t know anyone here and we can’t go to Swansea or across the
Loughor bridge – we can’t leave the town. But I am expecting it to be lockdown until Christmas at least.”
Dominique Turner, 18, said: “I haven’t left the house for the past two weeks. I think it’s just safer for everyone that way. I was supposed to start a new
job as a bartender in Bar Luna but had one shift and then lockdown so haven’t been able to work.”
Elizabeth Lloyd has been shielding for the past five months and hasn’t been able to see her family, who live in Cardiff.
She said: “I’ve been on
my own. I haven’t got many friends or family in Llanelli and haven’t been able to see my grandkids. It has really lonely – if it wasn’t for my friend I don’t know what I would do.
“I get emotional thinking about it, because I miss them.
Lyne Jenkins, 65, said: “I haven’t been able to see my family. My grandkids live in Gorseinon and are off school and I can’t look after them. The rules are becoming so confusing that I don’t understand whether we’re coming or going. They should get rid of the lockdown or make it Wales-wide.”
Roger, 78, and Linda Thomas, 77, also said that they missed most of their family but that lockdown was necessary.
Retired doctor Roger said: “People aren’t listening to the rules, I know that the lockdown is necessary but if people weren’t meeting up and were wearing their masks, things may have been done sooner.”
“It’s the young people I feel for, they should be able to go and get on with their lives and enjoy but I know we are the ones who’ll suffer.”
Wife Linda added: “We’re just very fortunate, we have a nice home and are healthy.”