A TOWN business group leader says the sudden lockdown a week before Christmas left traders shocked.

But Y-Fenni Business Community co-founder Lucy Hywel of Abergavenny shop That’s Lovely That says she is convinced the town can bounce back from the latest ‘rollercoaster’ setback.

“Normally, this would be the busiest week of the year for traders and it would have been a chance to make up some of the losses from the earlier pandemic restrictions,” she said.

“Some people may have already done their shopping because of the times we currently live in, though, but last Saturday’s announcement that we were going into Tier 4 still came as a shock. Businesses hadn’t seen it coming.”

Lucy added that it was doubly damaging that the lockdown came in Christmas week, but it could continue to have an effect in January, when sales and people with Christmas money traditionally kept the tills ringing.

“It’s been a complete rollercoaster year,” she said, “and this is another dash in our hopes.

“It’s another sad part of what we are all going through, but we’re all in this battle together to protect the community, we’re not a shopping mall in isolation from townspeople.”

While many non-essential stores have closed completely, shops that are still able to trade on an online order basis, such as florists, are having trouble obtaining supplies from across the border and fulfilling orders, while fashion stores may be unable to offload surplus stock in sales or deal with returns if they can’t open, she said.

“But we know we have to do this for the good of everyone.

“It’s about the wider community, which businesses are very much a part of,” added Lucy, who is mulling over when to reopen her own business, which sells greeting cards and paint, which can be sold under the new restrictions.

“It hits us, but I think traders understand that we have to take measures to protect people.

“And this town is so vibrant, so beautiful, with a unique shopping offer, that I’m sure it will bounce back in 2021. We’re in a much better position than some shopping centres.

“At least this time, some shops have some flexibility in that they can do ‘click and collect’ online orders, it’s not a complete shutdown for everyone.”

Lucy met with the Monmouthshire Council Resilience Forum on behalf of Y-Fenni Business Community last Tuesday morning to discuss the effect of the latest restrictions.

“They are still waiting for information from the Senedd on what help may be available re-infrastructure and compensation, and the focus on the moment is on those hospitality venues that were hit by the December 4 changes,” she said.

“Hopefully we’ll learn more after Christmas.”

Following the lockdown announcements new Cibi Walk store Mother Nature’s Goodies posted: “Such shocking news that we have to lockdown almost straight away. Not 100 per cent sure what that means for us as we make hand sanitiser but for now I assume we will close,” said the store’s Steve Tranter.

Other businesses have had to join the town’s long list of Christmas casualties, which already includes the likes of Wales ‘Hotel of the Year’ The Angel, and the Coliseum, and Lamb and Flag pubs.

Marcus Ramsdale posted on Monday: “So it is with heavy heart that I have to announce that we are now closed until further notice at Abergavenny Brewers Fayre. I would like to apologise to all the guests that have been let down especially on Christmas Day.

“Thank you for all your support over the last year and hope to see you all soon. Have a merry Christmas and a happy new year and most importantly, stay safe. X.”

While William Griffiths, of The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny and The Walnut Tree Inn said: ‘‘We weren’t surprised to learn of a new lockdown being imposed in January, having seen the cases continue to rise in Wales over the past few weeks, despite the additional hospitality restrictions which have been in place. It would be useful to have more clear communication on how long this is expected to last, as the current review every three weeks, means we will have to second guess decisions again, in order to try and give customers and suppliers notice for either reopening, or further cancellations.

‘‘We already know it’s not feasible for us to operate under the alert level three restrictions, therefore, realistically don’t expect to be able to reopen now until the Spring.’’