Pilot Covid events ignore north Wales, Senedd told

A programme of pilot events organised as part of Wales' road out of Covid lockdown has left north Wales ignored, politicians say.

Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives have demanded action to be taken.

The Welsh government unveiled nine pilot test events on Tuesday, including the Wales-Albania international friendly in June.

Officials said the programme of events followed discussions with organisers, venues and councils.

But Plaid Cymru said there were no events "north of Brecon".

The government has said the programme would help develop guidance and processes to "allow the safe return of events in Wales".

The first are taking place this week, with Eid-al-Fitr celebrations and the Tafwyl Welsh language festival at Cardiff Castle, both with up to 500 people attending.

But the new Plaid Senedd member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Mabon ap Gwynfor, said the list spoke "volumes about the Labour Welsh government's priorities".

"Venues have struggled through the pandemic in all parts of the country and it is deeply regrettable that the pilot plan is ignoring the many suitable locations we have here across the region," said Mr ap Gwynfor.

"If the government is serious about making sure that the north is not left behind its actions after the election must match its warm words before it."

Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said: "It's pleasing to see spectator trials given the green light, but ministers should correct the one glaring error in the plan and ensure there are pilots in north Wales, not just concentrated in the south."

The decision to name two play-off games for Swansea City and Newport has also sparked controversy.

The Football Association of Wales' head of competitions Andrew Howard said on social media that not including any games from Welsh football leagues was "gut-wrenching".

In Wrexham, Plaid Cymru councillor Carrie Harper has started a petition calling for events at the town's Racecourse stadium.

"All we want is a bit of fair play for the north - the Welsh government has announced these pilots for open-air events, which is very welcome, but they're all south of the M4," she said.

The town's Labour Senedd member Lesley Griffiths said officials have already been in discussion with the club, and "would love to see the Racecourse" included if the team reaches the National League play-offs, with a chance of being promoted to the English Football League Two.

One festival organiser in north Wales has warned that without a date for reopening the live outdoor sector, they will have to pull the plug.

Rock The Park in Wrexham has already sold 30,000 tickets for the event in August.

The Welsh government has said it will "provide more clarity" for the sector on Friday.

But Rock the Park's Sam Foulkes told BBC Wales Live that the lack of information was not fair on organisers, customers or artists.

"Give us a date. When can live music happen again, when can we get people in a field?" said Mr Foulkes.

"These things are planning to go ahead in England.

"We've got artists asking us can we come and perform, they need to book things, customers wanting to book hotels, there's no information out there whatsoever."

Sarah Hemsley-Cole from industry body We Make Events Cymru said a lack of information was having a big impact on the sector in Wales.

"I think the reality is the test event programme here in Wales is not as ambitious at the one in England," she said.

"At the moment we are seeing events turning away from Wales, we are seeing opportunities lost where in Wales we cannot commit whereas in England they are able to be a lot bolder and a lot braver.

"The longer-term impact we are worried about is if a festival chooses to relocate to England, would you ever come back to Wales?"

Under the UK government's Event Research Programme, several events have already taken place, including Tuesday's Brit Awards, which had an indoor audience of 4,000 without social distancing.

Welsh government officials have said successful test events will "hopefully allow larger gatherings back to stadia, theatres and other venues in Wales".

On the locations, they added: "Selection of the events to be included in the proposed pilot programme was made on the basis of discussion with venues, local authorities and event organisers, seeking spread across types of event and locations across Wales."

You can see more on this issue on Wales Live on Wednesday, at 22:35 BST on BBC One Wales.