A number of Brecon businesses have spoken out about the effects of another potential lockdown, with one owner stating further restrictions could be ‘disastrous’ for trade, writes trainee reporter Josh Warn.

Welsh Health Secretary, Eluned Morgan, has not ruled out another lockdown in Wales, stating that it is “too early” to say whether the Welsh Government will introduce tighter restrictions in the run up to Christmas.

The Welsh Government has not proposed any lockdown type restrictions yet, but their plans are starting to become more uncertain and more difficult to predict.

It was hoped that with high vaccination rates and the introduction of booster vaccines, the need for tighter restrictions in Wales could be bypassed.

However, although First Minister Mark Drakeford previously said that he had no plans to shut businesses, he later wrote a letter to Boris Johnson asking for financial support if the Welsh Government needed to enforce “more interventionist measures”.

Many businesses within Brecon claim that they would not be able to survive another lockdown.

Sian Bowen, owner of the newly opened, Two Dogs Coffee & Tea Emporium, said: “Without any financial help, that would finish us off, it would be disastrous for us.”

The view that another lockdown could bring damning effects to business within Brecon is shared by a lot of people.

MacDonald’s fishmongers added: “We couldn’t get deliveries or staff last time, so if it was to happen again it would hit us big time.”

Another lockdown would have obvious effects on the economic side of Brecon business, but Tia Apedaile of Cloud 9, stated her concern for the mental wellbeing of the town.

She said: “I think Brecon would be detrimentally affected. We can recover the financial losses but it’s not going to be so easy to recover the mental health issues.”

Some businesses within Brecon take a less detrimental view

Carol Webb, a shareholder of Beacons Craft said: “Obviously we’d rather it didn’t have to happen but what can you do, people’s health is more important.”

A national lockdown is not guaranteed this winter, but there are ways in which the people of Brecon can reduce the likelihood of this.

Fay Jones, Conservative MP for Brecon and Radnorshire said:

“Like many I very much hope stricter measures will not be required but we all can play our part by booking our booster jab and regularly self-testing. That way we should all be able to enjoy a relatively normal Christmas.”

You can find more information regarding how to stay covid safe and new covid rulings within Wales on the Welsh Government website.