The leader of Conwy county council has formally requested the lifting of some lockdown measures to revive its flagging tourism industry in a letter to the First Minister.

The request from Cllr Sam Rowlands comes after Mark Drakeford called Conservative Party leaders in North Wales a “disgrace”.

Leaders penned a joint response last week questioning why fresh restrictions had been brought in for Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Conwy.

Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Drakeford claimed the joint letter was an “encouragement to people in North Wales not to abide by the law”.

In another letter sent today to the First Minister, Cllr Rowlands said the measures could have a “catastrophic effect” on the area’s economy as well as “the health and wellbeing” of residents.

He said many businesses, reliant on the tourism industry, could fold with many employees losing their jobs.

Cllr Rowlands said: “Many of my residents are now having to face this reality but you have the opportunity to change this if you choose to do so, and many of my residents are relying on you to make this change.

“You will know that I am very supportive of balanced measures which follow the evidence of what is causing the increase in Covid-19 cases.

“As I shared with you, it is clear that there is no evidence which points to the movement of people in North Wales as a major contributing factor for the increase in cases of Covid-19.

“Therefore, this restriction does not appear to be based on any evidence and seems completely disproportionate to the reality of the situation.”

He added: “I would ask again that this voice is listened to and, at the very least, a quick review is undertaken so that people are able to move in and out of Conwy County Borough without restriction, whilst abiding by other reasonable and sensible measures.”

North Wales Tourism boss Jim Jones welcomed the move. He said: “I’m delighted to see Cllr Sam Rowlands taking this stance it’s 100% the right thing to do.

“We want to see everyone safe but we have to get a balance between protecting lives and protecting our livelihoods that we so much depend upon.”

A Welsh Government spokeswoman said restrictions in the area were being kept under “close review”.

She added: “We have received a letter and will respond in due course.

“Local restrictions were introduced following discussions with the local authority, public health experts, police and NHS in response to a rapid increase in cases of coronavirus in the Conwy county borough council area.”

The area was put under lockdown from 6pm on October 1 after cases rose well above the warning levels of 25 cases per 100,000 of the population in Conwy, Denbighshire, Wrexham and Flintshire.