Action taken against town centre bar, as businesses and customers urged to stick to the rules to help keep Wrexham safe…
As a council, we’re doing everything we can to support local businesses during the Covid-19 emergency.
It’s great to be able to report that the vast majority are managing the risks well, and keeping staff and customers as safe as possible.
Every business is different and each one has to work out what changes they need to make to keep everyone safe.
However, we also have a duty to intervene when businesses are putting their staff, customers and Wrexham as a whole at risk by failing to introduce Covid-19 safety measures.
So this week, we’ve issued an “improvement notice” to Chequers bar in Church Street, Wrexham.
We’ve done this using new powers given to local councils under coronavirus legislation.
Breach of regulations
Councillor Hugh Jones, Wrexham Council’s Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety, says:
“The premises were in breach of the regulations due to poor control of customer social distancing, no queue-management, and allowing people to drink standing up.
“We don’t want to serve these notices on businesses, but every establishment must follow the rules to help keep Wrexham safe.
“We’ll work with Chequers to provide further guidance and hopefully help them achieve compliance with regulations in the very near future.”
It’s not just businesses…it’s every one of us
It’s not just businesses that have a role to play in keeping the town centre safe and welcoming.
It’s customers too. So when you visit a pub, café, restaurant or shop, help staff out by following instructions and sticking to social distancing.
Eating and drinking establishments have to take contact details from customers, so please ‘sign in’ if you’re asked to.
If any staff or customers test positive for Covid-19 at any point, this will help contact tracers get in touch with people they may have come into contact with at the premises.
Striking the right balance
Councillor Terry Evans, Lead Member for Economic Development, says:
“We’re doing everything we can to support local businesses, and there’s a fine balance to strike between keeping people safe and supporting the local economy.
“It’s absolutely vital that businesses follow the regulations. I can’t stress that enough.
“It’s also really important that customers follow the rules when they visit local pubs, bars, restaurants and shops.
“Please be kind to staff and listen to instructions. They’re working in difficult circumstances, and need customers to work with them.
“It’s up to all of us – as businesses and customers – to help keep Wrexham safe, and the vast majority are doing an amazing job.”
Useful info
If you run a business in Wrexham and you’re uncertain about current Covid-19 regulations and how they affect you, take a look at the Welsh Government website.
If you need further advice, contact Wrexham Council on 01978 298990.
If you’re a member of the public and you’re concerned about safety arrangements at a premises while shopping, or eating or drinking out, you can find information the Welsh Government website.
How to get a test if you’ve got Coronavirus Symptoms.
[button color=”” size=”large” type=”square_outlined” target=”new” link=”https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-test”]APPLY NOW[/button]
