Plaid Cymru Assembly Member for Ynys Mon Rhun ap Iorwerth has urged Welsh Government to issue an urgent directive to prevent visitors from leaving their primary residences to come to second homes or caravans in parts of the UK where essential services cannot handle further strain.
The Ynys Mon AM raised this matter with First Minister Mark Drakeford last week in the Senedd, and has since written an urgent letter to the leader of Welsh Government asking for a directive to be put in place to protect local services in rural Wales which are already under strain.
Mr ap Iorwerth renewed his plea on Sunday evening as it came to light that arrests had supposedly been made on the island after escalation where local people had allegedly intervened to try and drive visitors away to protect local services.
Reports of arrests tonight. Frustrations boiling over at lack of firm action to close holiday accommodation in places like Anglesey. I share your frustration, but PLEASE don’t take law into your own hands…& Governments please ACT NOW!! #coronavirus @WelshGovernment @UKGovWales pic.twitter.com/sAeWRuG58O
— Rhun ap Iorwerth (@RhunapIorwerth) March 22, 2020
The AM said on Sunday night:
“I have heard this evening of arrests in Rhosneigr, with some people trying to get visitors to the area to go home at this time of crisis. Please, please, don’t do this – it needs to be sorted properly, and I’m asking Welsh Government once again to please sort this out.
“A clear directive needs to put in place that people at this time should occupy their own primary residence, seeking assistance – if they need it – from their own local NHS provider.
“We just haven’t got the resources here to provide for an unnecessarily inflated population. Everybody needs to be sensible, but Government needs to take action and it has to happen now.”
