WHILE restrictions around exercise are easing in England the same is not true across the county border in Wales.

On Sunday, Boris Johnson announced that people in England should return to work if they were unable to from home this week.

He also said from Wednesday people could travel to parks and beauty spots for their exercise.

Hay-on-Wye sits just inside the Welsh boarder along with the Brecon Beacons National Park.

The Welsh Government have extended their lockdown for three weeks with people encouraged to work from home and any exercise should start from residents’ own homes.

County councillor for Hay-on-Wye Gareth Ratcliffe says that during this lockdown period people should not be travelling from Herefordshire into Powys unnecessarily for leisure purposes, even if free to do so by the English Government.

“Restrictions have not changed and there is still a stay at home message here,” said cllr Ratcliffe.

“We are sending a key message not to visit Hay-on-Wye currently and not to visit the Brecon Beacons National Park. Hay is within Powys so we must follow the Welsh Government’s guidelines.

“While it is confusing we must follow the guidelines from our Government.

“There are anomalies across borders and the Scottish and Welsh message is different to the English one.

“But at the end of the day our priority is keeping everyone safe and Hay is in Wales.

“The message is to stay away from the Welsh Government as we can’t afford a second spike.”

Cllr Ratcliffe, who is also chairman of the Brecon Beacons National Park authority says that over the past few weeks the Pen-y-Fan area has had visitors from Bristol and London.

“There is a lot of confusion following the latest English guidelines but the current restrictions here mean that people need to stay away for the time being,” added Cllr Ratcliffe.

“Just be mindful that we all have to play our part by not making trips unless it’s actually essential and needed.

“We have also had one or two visitors to Hay who didn’t understand the potential impact of travelling.”

Tips in Herefordshire and Leominster opened at the weekend while in Powys tips remain closed due to fears for the safety of staff and customers.

Hereford residents waited in a queue for over two hours when the city’s tip re-opened on Saturday morning.

However, over the county border the tip at Brecon remains closed.

“We need to be absolutely certain that our libraries and Household Waste Recycling Centres are safe for both customers and staff before we re-open them, that process cannot be rushed so please do not expect to see your local service open quickly,” said Powys corporate director for economy and environment Nigel Brinn.

“Further information about the re-introduction of any form of service delivery will be announced as soon as we have accurate information.

“In the meantime, our regular waste and recycling collections will continue as they have done throughout the outbreak and all books out on loan continue to be automatically renewed and any fines are waived.”