Covid: Beach car parks shut to stop lockdown rule-breakers
- Published
Beach car parks were shut and people were fined for breaking lockdown travel rules as police enforced strict Covid restrictions as the sun shone in Wales.
Swansea Council said it had shut beach car parks at Bracelet Bay, Langland Bay and Caswell at the request of police.
Officers dealt with "numerous reports" of crowds at beauty spots with people in Wales only allowed to go out for essential reasons or local exercise.
People were fined for travelling to "take pictures of their dogs together."
South Wales Police said they gave several fixed penalty notices on Sunday to a group of people that had travelled from Swansea to Merthyr "to take pictures of their dogs together in a large group".
The force requested closure of some beaches in the Swansea area because people "shouldn't be driving to these places.
Police also said officers stopped cars to check whether journeys are essential as part of Wales' 'stay at home' Covid lockdown rules.
"We are working alongside local councils to close some car parks, and will be stopping cars to check whether the journey is essential," it added.
Swansea Council tweeted: "We know it's great weather out there but Welsh Government rules mean we should not drive to any location for daily exercise."
Police have also been carrying out patrols in Pontarddulais in Swansea due to reports of people breaching rules.
#EastsideNPT PSCO Dix is patrolling the #CopperQuarter @MorfaSP after reports of Anti social behaviour🚫🚫 You may have run off but I have your details!! Parents MUST be responsible for their children's behaviour & Covid breaches. Action to be taken. @CoastalHousing @NptSgt pic.twitter.com/ZE6MJmZmpo
— South Wales Police Swansea (@SWPSwansea) February 28, 2021
We are receiving complaints from concerned members of the public again today regarding large groups at Bellevue Park. We will be liaising with Wrexham County Borough Council regarding this over the course of the week.
— NWP Wrexham Town (@NWPWrexhamTown) February 28, 2021
https://t.co/uBikF1cSfG
PCSOs Robey and Curtis are patrolling #Mawdlam and surrounding areas after concerns regarding vehicle congestion.
— South Wales Police Bridgend (@SWPBridgend) February 28, 2021
Please remember Government Restrictions are still in place. Exercise should start and end at home. #StaySafe #PyleNTP ^56002 pic.twitter.com/tsocSKoHFk
In Wrexham, police said officers were "ensuring that visitors to our parks are adhering to the current guidelines" following "concerns about gatherings".
Rule breakers face a £60 fine for breaches in the regulations which ban all but essential travel.
Four people in Merthyr Tydfil were given Covid fixed penalty fines for attending a child's birthday party on Saturday as police carried out spot checks.
St Harmon in Powys dropped to minus 4°C last night rising to 10°C this afternoon. A fine and settled end to meteorological winter in #Wales thanks to high pressure 🔆⛅ pic.twitter.com/meCA2F4Jl7
— Derek Brockway - weatherman (@DerekTheWeather) February 28, 2021
In north Wales, Conwy Council called on people to "enjoy exercising locally".
"We know exercise is important, but while Wales is at alert level 4, you should not be driving to get to somewhere to exercise," it tweeted.