Newsletter

Dear All,

I wanted to update you about the work the Directors have been doing to influence decisions on a local and National level since the last Newsletter.

               The regulations and guidelines under which we were permitted to reopen in the summer were developed in consultation with the LHA and Directors and we were especially pleased to have ensured that the 2m or less with mitigating measures clause was agreed to and put in to the Guidelines, as this was something we felt was essential for our members to enable them to trade economically.

We have also challenged and queried the impacts and oversights resulting from the changing regulations as things progressed during the Autumn to the extent of being part of the Welsh Government Forum which was responsible for developing and communicating these changes. As a result of our lobbying pressure, Welsh Government have adopted a new process for communication and supporting advertising materials for businesses to use which are on the Visit Wales website. We continue to challenge the perceptions of beaurocrats about the needs of our industry and the support that we need to ensure we can retain our valued workforces and survive the crisis of the economy.

                       Today we contributed to a document which has been submitted to WAG through our role in Hospitality Cymru, the purpose of the document being to highlight the substantive evidence which shows that our industry has done the most to protect lives this summer, yet we face the hardest economic pressures through Restrictions and now the Lockdown. This letter proposes new solutions once the lockdown ends and supports the removal of a number of the constraints which we have been placed under whilst still ensuring that we are able to operate at less than 2m distancing so long as we have mitigating measures in place. This we believe is essential to ensure economic survival for many of our members. This letter is due to be considered at the WAG Cabinet meeting tomorrow.

During the last 11 weeks since we were able to open up internally with full services (other than Treatments), we have supported businesses with queries regarding mitigating measures as well as taking forward challenges to Regulatory Services when clear misunderstandings and errors had occurred.

                On an almost daily level recently I and other Directors have taken part in interviews for TV, Radio and Press highlighting the plight of our industry, the unfairness of us taking the responsibility for the rise in infections when these are being generated in peoples homes etc and slowly we are changing the narrative around the way forward. This is coupled with our calls for fair financial support for ourselves as Business owners as well as for our employees to receive a government backed income which enables them to live above the poverty line this winter.

      We are also currently discussing with both Cardiff and CCBC when and how the grant funding for a 3 week lockdown will be released and what steps we will need to take to access this funding. We are still challenging the restraints placed on ERF 3 which is desperately needed to ensure businesses survive until April.

         As many of you will already know, I have been challenging the decisions made, the impacts felt and the lack of clarity regarding all information sent out by WAG since we first entered lockdown and will continue to do so on behalf of all Hospitality Businesses in the area, whatever sector you operate in. The impact on suppliers and supporting businesses is also something which I regularly refer to and highlight to ensure the fullest picture is provided to our regulators in Cardiff and Westminster of the Economic impact to the County and Region.

                I encourage you all to communicate to me any key impacts or concerns that you have now and going forward, having first checked the LHA website to gain any potential solution which may already be addressed in our pages of course. It is only by you communicating with the Association that we can ensure that you get the right support and guidance when you need it.

                              Finally, we are intending to hold the AGM of the Association on Thursday 26th November as a Zoom meeting and will shortly be able to send out the formal notice of this. There are currently just 9 Directors of the Association which presents us with 3 vacancies for new Directors and includes the fact that we will shortly have a vacancy for Company Secretary due to the standing down of one of the existing Directors. If you feel that you would like to become part of the Associations team fighting for our industry and it's future then please contact either myself or any of the Directors listed below who will gladly talk to you about the commitment required and the roles available.

Stay Safe and keep doing what you have been doing so well up to now that has protected the 100,000's of visitors to our town since July 11th.

Berin Jones

Chairman

07766118317

Gerry Sweeny Vice Chairman ( Christleton House)

Richard Scammans Membership ( Hafan Y Mor guesthouse)

Charlotte Williams Director ( Dunoon Hotel)

Betty Davidson - Director (Agar Hosue)

Adrian La Trobe- Director ( Venue Cymru)

Pasquale Milo- Director (Romeos Restaurant)

Sabbir Ahmed - Director ( Blue Elephant Restaurant)

 Peter Hibberd - Director ( Evans Hotel)