Authorities have given improvement notices to 16 more businesses, including four convenience stores, in Bridgend County Borough for breaching coronavirus rules.
In addition to the convenience stores, council officers have given warnings to four cafes, four takeaways, two butchers, a carpenters and a wine merchant for issues concerning face masks over the last two weeks.
On Monday January 18, officers from the Shared Regulatory Service (SRS) gave improvement notices to Bargain Booze (New Road, Newton, Porthcawl) because staff failed to wear “adequate” personal protective equipment.
On Thursday January 14 notices were served to Lifestyle Express, (Heol Fach, North Cornelly), K2 Gym Cafe (Brackla Industrial Estate), and Bargain Booze (The Triangle, Bridgend).
According to a council spokesperson, staff at Lifestyle Express “failed to wear face coverings” while staff at K2 Gym Cafe also failed to wear masks and were given advice on social distancing. Documents on the SRS website revealed two members of staff at Bargain Booze were working in close proximity without wearing masks. They noted one staff member was exempt from wearing a mask.
On Tuesday January 12 and Wednesday January 13, to Central Fast Food (Kenfig Hill, Bridgend), Pyle Fish Bar (Ffald Rd, Bridgend), Phil’s News and Cafe (Bridgend Industrial Estate), Mozzarella Pizza and Kebab (Kenfig Hill, Bridgend) and Meg’s Cafe (Heol Ganol, Bridgend).
SRS documents state officers found two groups of three staff working at Phil’s News and Cafe “with no masks or masks below noses in close proximity”.
On Tuesday 05 January, enforcement officers gave notices to Costa Coffee (John Street, Porthcawl) Magness Butchers (John Street, Porthcawl) and Wall 2 Wall Wines (New Road, Porthcawl) because staff were not wearing masks when they should have been.
On Wednesday 06 January, officials issued notices to The Star (Nolton St, Bridgend), T & H Family Butchers (Dunraven Place, Bridgend) Nottage Timber & Joinery Ltd (Village Farm Industrial Estate, Pyle), and Apna Bazaar (Dunraven Place, Bridgend).
A council spokesperson said at each of these premises staff were found not wearing masks when they should have been.
According to the Welsh Government website, everyone over the age of 11 must wear a mask unless they are exempt.
Masks must be worn in all indoor public places and on public transport including shops and shopping centres, places of worship, restaurants, pubs and cafes (until customers are seated).
A council spokesman said: “All inspections are carried out to the full extent of the pandemic requirements, and businesses are treated equally.
“The issuing of a notice is always a last resort, and the service remains fully focused upon ensuring that staff and customers remain safe from potential exposure to the coronavirus.”
The government website states staff working in indoor public spaces must wear masks “if they are in an area accessible to the public”.
It also states staff who are not facing the public may also need to wear face coverings “if physical distancing cannot be maintained”.
For example, employers may require staff to wear masks indoors “as a reasonable measure to minimise the risk of exposure to coronavirus on the premises, unless there are strong reasons not to”.
The SRS, a partnership between South Wales Police and Bridgend, Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan councils, carries out checks on licensed premises to ensure they comply with government guidelines.
Businesses are usually given 48 hours to comply with the terms of an improvement notice. Failure to comply can result in closure, a fixed penalty notice or being taken to court.
The SRS has issued 52 improvement notices to businesses in Bridgend County Borough and temporarily closed four for breaching Welsh Government coronavirus rules.
So far, no businesses in the area have been permanently closed for breaching the regulations.
Officers have given notices to 40 businesses in Cardiff and 35 businesses in the Vale of Glamorgan for rule breaches.
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