Relax restrictions on sports say Welsh Nub News readers

From North to South Wales, we asked our readers what they thought of the current Covid restrictions and whether sports facilities and children's sport reopen.

A majority of Nub News readers from towns across Wales think that the government should relax restrictions on sport and activity classes based on concerns for children's mental and physical health, once current rules begin to ease.

Newport East MS John Griffiths wrote to Health and Social Services Minister Vaughan Gething and the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism Dafydd Elis-Thomas to ask that relaxing the restrictions for sport and activities for young people is put "at the top of the queue". (link to previous article)

"Just behind that should be a much more general opening up of sport and leisure for all ages and I very much hope that Welsh Government will give this the serious consideration it warrants," wrote Mr Griffiths.

From Cowbridge to Conwy, Barry and Mumbles, we listened to our readers.

The majority of responses were in favour of reopening sports facilities for children, saying that the mental and physical health benefits of exercise outweighed the risk if enough safety measures were in place.

"Our children are suffering at the minute and barely have the motivation to get out of the house and these are children that are used to organised activities at least four times a week," said a Rhyl resident.

"Their mental and physical health should be a priority, as exercise has been proven to be one of the best remedies."

"Sport can be practised in a safe environment. They need the social, emotional and physical aspect of it for their overall wellbeing," said another reader from Penarth.

Of the readers who thought sport facilities should reopen, many said it should only happen when it is safe to do so.

"It's so important for their mental health and general wellbeing - they need some normality in a very confusing and stressful time," said one Conwy resident.

"I think they should be allowed to reopen with very strict conditions."

Readers in Penarth, Conwy, and Rhyl all said that facilities would have to open with high standards of safety measures and allow limited numbers.

Others agreed that some sports should be allowed if they could be done in small numbers without mixing, such as tennis.

"But football and rugby actively encourage large groups mingling, so they shouldn't be restarted," said a Penarth resident.

Not everyone was in favour, however.

One reader from Penarth said it would be "irresponsible" to reopen sports facilities, asking how changing rooms were safe when there is no ventilation and not enough room to socially distance.

Another said it was "right to be cautious" as the new strain has been evidenced in children.

One Cowbridge resident said that parents would have to make their own assessment of what was right for their children.

With a number of factors to consider, Nub News readers across North and South Wales feel children's health has been impacted by the closures, but think that if sports centres and children's sport were to reopen, clear and precise safety measures would be necessary.

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