A St Clears landlord has been fined for going against government guidelines after he opened up his pub to friends during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Licensee of the Sant Clara Inn Richard Pearce, who is also a St Clears town councillor representing the Llanfihangel Abercowin ward, was given was given a fixed penalty notice by police after people were found inside the pub on Sunday, March 29.
Clr. Pearce who had previously received a warning, claimed to police that he had invited friends to the Santa Clara Inn located on Bridge Street for a drink after they had helped him with some work at his other business.
Dyfed-Powys Police officers arrived at the establishment after receiving a call from a member of the public and told those inside to leave.
On March 20, the UK Government instructed all pubs, bars and restaurants to close due to the pandemic, before going on to ban gatherings of people who are not from the same household in public three days later.
“Police received a call on Sunday, March 29, reporting that a public house in the St Clears area was still opening for customers despite the government’s order to close,” said a spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police.
“Compliance with licensing regulations is currently the responsibility of licensing departments at each local authority, however officers did attend and the landlord was issued with fixed penalty notice as he had previously received a warning.
“A number of people were instructed to leave the premises,” they added, stating that a report has been sent to the licensing department of the local authority.
Head of homes and safer communities at Carmarthenshire Council, Jonathan Morgan said that ‘further consideration’ would be given to commencing the process for suspending or revoking the licence to sell alcohol at the premises over the next few days.
"We were made aware by the police of non-compliance with closure regulations at a licensed premises in the county and we are in the process of taking enforcement action against the premises concerned,” he said.