Fears of visitors and holidaymakers descending upon Tenby and its surrounding areas over the Easter holidays during the lockdown have been relayed once again by a local county councillor.

Comments on social media by residents have flagged up an alarming amount of people still trying to travel to their second homes in the area going against strict government guidelines on essential journeys, whilst others have raised concerns about families arriving in the vicinity for breaks at holiday lets and parks.

In correspondence to police and crime commissioner for the Dyfed-Powys Police force Dafydd Llywelyn, county councillor for Tenby’s North ward Clr. Michael Williams stated: “If prior to Easter one becomes aware that second home owners have arrived and taken up residence, can you clarify if the police have any powers to require them to return home? I am concerned that we will see a large influx of visitors over the Easter weekend.

“I am extremely concerned about the number of second home owners arriving in Tenby particularly today (Thursday). I know of one family that have arrived today from Somerset and are staying until Monday! This is hardly essential travel.

“I understand the constraints you have regarding staff recourses but this, as your aware is an emergency and the restraints on this type of travel must be enforced.

“I understand that from next week there will be assistance available from the armed forces, and I hope this extra manpower can be in part used to restrict this type of irresponsible travel,” he continued.

Leader of Plaid Cymru Adam Price reaffirmed Clr. Williams’ stance recently that second home owners should not be travelling to their properties during the Coronavirus crisis as it is putting added pressure on local services and causing risk for communities.

He has called for more action on the question of holiday lets, other tourist accommodations and non-primary residences being available for people to book and journey to.

“Current UK and Welsh Government advice states that people should not travel to their second homes because of the added pressure it puts on local services. That advice needs to be backed up by appropriate powers of enforcement if people choose to ignore it,” he remarked.

“Unless people cannot return home because someone is self-isolating in their primary residence, or for another humanitarian reason, all travel to non-primary residences should cease and people currently in non-primary residences should return home. Put simply, this will save lives,” continued Mr. Price.

A response to Clr. Williams from the police and crime commissioner’s office however states that policing powers cannot force second home owners out of their properties, and that they can only turn people away from travelling to a destination.

“Our guidelines at the moment in relation to second home occupations, is that we do not have the power to in effect, evict people from their home (albeit being a second home). “Police are stopping cars on the road and therefore if they are stopped and inform the officers of their intent they will be turned around,” stated a spokesperson.

Police officers in Pembrokeshire and road policing units have been stationed on major roadways and roundabouts into the county conducting high visibility patrols and checking on motorists to see if they are making essential journeys over the past couple of weeks.

“This is now in place every day at key locations. We are doing all we can. The staff are working really hard in challenging circumstances,” stated Police Superintendent for Pembrokeshire Ross Evans on Twitter this week.

Clr. Williams has urged police to increase the number of road blocks in place into the county to ensure that ‘non essential travel is rigorously enforced’.

“I’ve previously asked if the police could visit properties that are second homes that have suddenly become occupied, but apparently they don’t have the powers.

“Once they are in situ nothing can be done, hence the urgency of traffic restrictions being enforced,” he added.

Despite the Prime Minister placing the UK under lockdown on March 23, some people continued to flout the rules and are still treating the area as a holiday destination said Sergeant Hamish Nichols, of Dyfed-Powys Police recently, with officers having to turn away numerous caravans and camper vans whose owners were travelling to Pembrokeshire to ‘self-isolate’.

Sergeant Nichols also stated that police had spoken to two campsite owners who had been ‘open for business’, and issued them with stern advice to them.

“While the majority of local people have taken the government guidelines seriously too many people seem to think the rules do not apply to them,” he said.

“The message is clear – this is a lockdown, not a holiday, and anyone who ignores the current restrictions not only puts people’s lives in danger but also risks further action being taken against them.”

Where members of the public refuse to listen to advice, officers will be able to issue penalty notices of £30, which if not paid within 14 days double to £60.

Individuals who do not pay a fixed penalty notice could be taken to court, with magistrates able to impose further fines.

If an individual continues to refuse to comply, they will be acting unlawfully, and the police may arrest them.

“Enforcement is a last resort, and officers will always apply their common sense and discretion to every situation,” added Sgt Nichols.

The Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, Councillor David Simpson and other county council’s across West Wales urged people to take heed of Government advice when the lockdown was introduced and stay at home during the Coronavirus crisis instead of imposing a massive risk to not only themselves but rural and coastal communities.

“In particular it is extremely important that everyone follows the advice from the Government to slow and stop the spread of this virus and that we all do everything we can to support our essential public services, especially our NHS,” said Clr. Simpson, instructing people not to come on holiday to Pembrokeshire at this time.

“Please do not underestimate the risk this disease presents and we would urge you to take all the appropriate steps to keep you and your family safe, and also help all those who live and work here in West Wales stay safe and well.

“We promise you that Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion will be just as amazing places once this is all over and we are looking forward to the day in the near future when we are once again welcoming everyone back,” he added.