Club forced to shut after failing to follow coronavirus safety rules

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A club in Oakdale has been ordered to close for two weeks after failing to follow coronavirus safety rules.

The New Bungalow Club was issued with a closure notice by Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Trading Standards team.

Trading Standards visited the club on September 26, and found it had failed to enforce two-metre social distancing requirements, was not carrying out controls on customers entering the premises and hadn’t implemented appropriate seating arrangements.

The council also said the one-way system markings and contact tracing were “inadequate” and said customers weren’t wearing masks where required.

Meanwhile, the Blackwood Stars RFC clubhouse, which the council had ordered to close for seven days, has since reopened.

Trading Standards found that social distancing was not enforced at the clubhouse and contact tracing registers did not include time of entry, while customers remained at the bar after being served instead of sitting back in their seats.

The clubhouse was also unable to show whether a coronavirus risk assessment had been completed.

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.

“It is the responsibility of employers to ensure they are compliant as we will take action against those found to be in breach of the law.”

The council has also issued improvement notices to a number of businesses across Caerphilly County Borough.

These include: Bridgend Inn, Bedwas; New Red Chilli, Blackwood; Costa Coffee, Blackwood; The Halfway House, Gelligroes; Amici, Blackwood; The Puddlers Arms, Rhymney; The Royal, Rhymney; The Royal, Abertridwr; Jacabbs Club, Nelson; Aneurin Sports Bar, Penyrheol; Tredegar Arms, New Tredegar; The White Cross, Groeswen; Pengam Spice, Pengam; Angel Inn, Maesycwmmer.

A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the Plough, in Pontllanfraith had been issued with an improvement notice.

This information was provided to us by Caerphilly County Borough Council. The authority has clarified the pub was asked to make changes and did so within 24 hours. While a notice was written up, it was never issued because the changes were made.