Businesses across Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough are being warned to follow the Welsh Government guidance or they could be served an improvement notice or closure.
As figures of Covid-19 continue to rise across Wales and in areas of Rhondda Cynon Taf, the tough stance aims to ensure that businesses help to keep visitors to their premises safe, by ensuring things like; social distancing is being maintained and that hand and cleaning sanitiser is available where appropriate.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Public Health and Protection team have been continuing their visits to all businesses across the County Borough and found that SEVEN out of the 45 supermarket premises visited were not adhering to the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 which came into force on 10 August 2020, to control, minimise and prevent the risk of exposure to COVID-19.
As a result of this the following SEVEN premises have now been served Improvement Notices (Orange):
- Tesco, Talbot Green – Improvement Notice
- Aldi, Porth – Improvement Notice
- Morrisons, Porth – Improvement Notice
- Lidl, Aberdare – Improvement Notice
- Iceland, Pontypridd (Taff Street) – Improvement Notice
- Co-op, Ynysybwl – Improvement Notice
- Co-op, Penrhiwceiber – Improvement Notice
These businesses will now be granted 48 hours to correct the issues that have been highlighted or further enforcement action will be considered, including the option to issue closure notices.
This action follows the message from Council Leader, Cllr Andrew Morgan who has raised concerns relating to supermarkets, not just locally across Rhondda Cynon Taf, but on behalf of Wales.
Cllr Andrew Morgan, said: “Council officers have inspected over 45 supermarkets across RCT. All of those inspected have been advised on ways to improve how they operate, however eight supermarkets will receive follow up visits and seven are being served with improvement notices. During the inspections a number of businesses were advised on the regulations and made improvements immediately and have continued to enforce these. This has resulted in the businesses avoiding an Improvement Notice being issued today.
“While supermarkets and businesses across Rhondda Cynon Taf are being asked to improve how they operate within Covid-19 regulations. Each and every one of us who use these stores have to follow the rules, take more care and remember to social distance and use hand sanitiser etc. As the recent events over the past few days have shown us, the virus hasn’t gone away, but together by following the guidelines we can keep RCT and Wales safe.”
