Businesses told to improve coronavirus safety measures – or face closure

Three businesses have recently been told they must implement coronavirus safety measures – or face closure.

New Red Chilli in Blackwood, the Royal Arms Hotel in Rhymney and Marmaris Barber Shop #2 in Ystrad Mynach have all been handed improvement notices by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards team.

New Red Chilli was inspected by Trading Standards on September 14 following a complaint.

It was found to have failed to arrange its seating to allow for social distancing and had no contact tracing systems in place.

It was given 48 hours to improve or face closure.

When the Royal Arms Hotel was inspected on September 15, it was found to have not been recording phone numbers for contact tracing and had failed to make sure customers social distanced from each other.

It was given 72 hours to improve or be face being forced to shut.

Meanwhile, Marmaris Barber Shop #2 failed to ensure “appropriate use of PPE” and failed to inform customers of “appropriate information”.

It also failed to carry out strict cleaning regimes and had “incomplete” contact tracing information, according to Caerphilly County Borough Council.

Local authorities in Wales have been given the power to force businesses that have failed to comply with coronavirus safety measures to close.

Councillor Nigel George, council cabinet member for public protection, said: “We are supporting businesses to both understand and comply with the law.

“These rules are in place to protect both employees and the public.

“We will take action against those found to be in breach of the law.”

Between March 23 and August 28, enforcement officers from the council’s Trading Standards, licensing and environmental health teams visited 1,174 shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants to advise on coronavirus safety measures, and gave “proactive advice” to 1,750 premises.

Written warnings were sent to 66 premises, with three prohibition notices and two fixed penalty notices issued.

Two premises were forced to close down and six more voluntarily closed during that time frame, in which the council said it dealt with 1,329 queries from the public.

Meanwhile, supermarket chain Morrisons has said it will be retraining cashiers after an image, which appears to show a lack of social distancing at the checkouts at its Caerphilly town store, emerged on social media.

A Morrisons spokeswoman said: “There are designated areas at the end of each of our tills for customers to pack their shopping, whilst maintaining the correct social distance.

“Unfortunately, on this occasion it appears both customers paid at the same time.

“We are retraining the cashiers in question to prevent this from happening again.”