TWO Newtown businesses have joined Llanymynech Golf Club in being served with Covid-19 compliance notices by Powys County Council.

Each remained open despite Wales' Alert 4 restrictions as the country battles a growing number of coronavirus cases.

On January 5, Llanymynech Golf Club was forced to close for allowing people to continue to play golf.

The golf club was visited by the council's Trading Standards Team over the weekend in response to complaints.

The officers found 60 cars in the car park and following an investigation a compliance notice was issued.

Despite a small part of the golf course being in England, the golf club pays business rates to Powys County Council and is therefore subject to Welsh Government Covid-19 regulations.

Meanwhile Bebbs Hand Car Wash and Newtown Hand Car Wash were also served with compliance notices earlier in the month when they flouted the guidance and continued to trade.

Alert Level 4 restrictions require people to stay at home unless they can satisfy one of the very few reasonable exemptions.

Golf courses and manual hand car washes are required to stay closed in this alert level and as a result, all three notices will remain in place until the restrictions are lifted by Welsh Government.

Councillor Graham Breeze, Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, said: "The majority of business premises continue to comply with the Covid-19 regulations and are doing their bit to help control the virus.

"We know this is a very difficult time, but infection rates are extremely high at the moment and the health of our residents must come first.

"Intervening in this way is always a last resort but the council is left no choice when businesses blatantly ignore the rules.

"The council has supported people in a number of ways during the pandemic, including processing business grants, keeping businesses informed, and helping them to comply with the regulations.

"Please keep doing everything you can to slow the spread so that we can overcome this dreadful virus as soon as possible."

Support for businesses can be found on the council's website - www.powys.gov.uk/coronavirus/helpforbusinesses