THE MS for Aberconwy has slammed the Christmas restrictions placed on pubs, restaurants and cafes as "totally inappropriate" for the area.

Janet Finch-Saunders said the Welsh Government hospitality restrictions confirmed by First Minister Mark Drakeford on Monday will hit Conwy the hardest while its case rate is 90 per cent lower than the national average.

The restrictions, which include a ban on selling alcohol with food-serving establishments only allowed to provide takeaway services after 6pm, take effect on Friday, December 4.

Mr Drakeford said businesses in Wales will receive "the most generous package of financial assistance anywhere in the UK" however Mrs Finch-Saunders believes the measures will have a "devastating" impact on those in the Conwy region.

“Mark Drakeford’s devastating rules are wrong for Aberconwy," she said. "Between 20 and 26 November, Conwy County only had 19.6 cases per 100,000 whilst Wales as a whole had 211.3 per 100,000.

“In fact, on Saturday Conwy County had a rate of 9.4 per 100,000.

“Welsh Labour’s action is totally inappropriate and disproportionate for Conwy, and so the Welsh Government needs to think again.

“The Welsh Government must urgently come forward with the scientific data that supports such an arbitrary, nationwide ruling. I know that many people will be devastated by today’s news, rightly acknowledging that pubs and restaurants throughout Aberconwy have gone to extreme lengths to enact industry leading safety measures as a means to protect customers.

“In my tour of businesses throughout the constituency over the weekend, as a means of marking the run-up to small business Saturday, owners and staff were clear that they want to be empowered to trade. Instead, they remain at the mercy of this administration’s continued and unsubstantiated brazen attack on hospitality businesses. They deserve better.

“With a loose promise of financial support for those businesses affected, it is vital that we do not witness a repeat of the confusion and delay in the grant systems after the recent firebreak period. After all, a recent survey found that 75% of respondents did not manage to file an application to the Welsh Government’s ERF Phase 3 scheme, before its premature closure.

“Grants must be delivered swiftly, and whichever body is made responsible for their delivery supported through what will be an inevitable avalanche of applications for vital and necessary funding support. Businesses cannot be left wanting as a result of continued mismanagement by this Welsh Labour-led Government.”