Reports of holiday businesses receiving visitors and second homes being occupied locally continue to be received by Pembrokeshire County Council.

The regulations are clear that residents should stay at their primary residence and that travel to holiday accommodation or second homes is not essential travel.

Police officers have the power to issue fixed penalty notices and turn those travelling around.

Across the Easter weekend police and Council officers stopped 1,660 vehicles with 39 fixed penalty notices issued to those deemed to have left their homes without reasonable excuse.

Further traffic checks are continuing day and night.

Travelling to a second home or holiday accommodation risks introducing the virus to rural communities from areas where the disease might be more prevalent.

It also places additional strain on local health services where provision is based on resident population.

There are also concerns of increasing anxieties and possible tensions in rural communities.

This week Pembrokeshire County Council Leader, Clr. David Simpson, reaffirmed that ‘now is not the time to travel to Pembrokeshire.’

“We sadly continue to hear about UK and Wales death figures associated with Covid-19 and it is very sad that this pandemic has hit us in such a way. Therefore it is vitally important that we continue to adhere to Government advice to ensure we protect lives,” commented Clr. Simpson.

“I want to highlight a few issues that have been brought to my attention regarding second homes and holiday accommodation

“The current regulations are clear: residents should stay at their primary residence and that journeys to holiday accommodation or second homes are not essential travel.

“Police officers have the power to issue fixed penalty notices and turn back those travelling.

“The police and County Council are continuing to check vehicle movements and Fixed Penalty Notices will be issued if in breach.

“Travelling to a second home or holiday accommodation risks spreading the disease, so I urge people to stay at home. Now is not the time to travel to Pembrokeshire.

“As I have mentioned before, our county will be open for business in the future and we will then welcome back our visitors.

“This pandemic does not have any boundaries. Anyone can catch Covid-19 so stay at home and stay safe,” he continued.

“The very clear advice we have received is that any change to our social distancing measures now would risk a significant increase in the spread of the virus

“I have been informed by our officers that some people are still not adhering to the full rules. This is not acceptable. It is selfish and risks lives.

“Some people feel they are ‘local’ and that they can move around. This again is not acceptable. Everyone must adhere to the rules otherwise the spread of this awful virus will continue.

“Think about front-line staff; think and care about our NHS; think before you go out. Why take a chance?” added Clr. Simpson.

For clarity, all holiday accommodation businesses listed below are to remain closed to the public until further notice, apart from the certain limited exceptions described:

• Holiday sites

• Camping sites

• Hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation

• Other holiday accommodation (including holiday apartments, hostels and boarding houses)

These businesses can be specifically requested to operate by the Welsh Ministers or by Local Authorities for a limited number of reasons. Such reasons include:

• accommodating key/critical workers (as defined by Welsh Government)

• accommodating those who have been displaced or are homeless, or;

• providing accommodation for health patients.

If a business is specifically requested to open by Welsh Ministers or a Local Authority, this provision should not be taken to mean that the whole site or business can reopen.

Any permitted re-opening will be specific and limited to the purposes set out in the request.

The fact the Welsh Ministers or Local Authorities may request a business to open for a specific purpose does not authorise it to open for any other purpose and nor does it oblige the business to open.

Some holiday businesses in the County are currently accommodating key workers but if such businesses have not yet been asked to do so by the Welsh Ministers or a Local Authority, they must make Pembrokeshire County Council aware of this as a matter of urgency.

They need to ensure that a written request is forthcoming from the Welsh Ministers or Local Authority and they may only remain open in response to such a request.

Enforcement action will be undertaken against any holiday accommodation business that continues to operate without such a request having been made.

Our communities continue to be monitored in partnership with Dyfed Powys Police and officers of the Council’s Public Protection team for compliance.

If you have information that causes you concern in your community relating to the use of holiday accommodation and buildings please contact the Council at [email protected]

There is also currently a particular challenge in terms of securing sufficient accommodation for vulnerable groups.

Holiday accommodation businesses in Pembrokeshire are being requested to consider providing accommodation for such groups.

If you currently own or manage holiday accommodation businesses in Pembrokeshire and would like to make this accommodation available for this purpose, please email [email protected] with contact details.

If you have already responded to the Welsh Government’s request, please let the Council know to update records.

If you are operating a business in Pembrokeshire and want to make sure that you are only operating within the correct permission under The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations 2020  please contact email [email protected]