If I live in Wales but work in England....

[diege]

Can anyone help with a, shall we say, 'difference of opinion' between myself and my fiancé please? Dp lives in Wales (local lockdown area) and works in England. We've been seeing each other as part of a bubble since this was permitted, but obviously now with the recent changes travelling to see your 'bubble' outside of the area (in Wales) isn't possible. I'm arguing that once in England for work (border town) he's under English law and can meet up with me? (I live 15 mins drive from his work). Dp would be leaving Wales for work, but then meet up with me in my hone before travelling back to Wales. He's saying it's breaking the 'spirit' of the law 🤔 (and I can see his point) but surely you're subject to the law of the area you're in at one point in time? Ironically I'm Welsh, and work in Wales (his home town) so can travel to Wales but not meet up due to Welsh bubbles (in local lockdown areas) restricted to the local area. A minefield! 🤣 Looking really for any links to docs/formal guidelines that clarify.

Isn't this irrelevant now because Mark Drakeford has changed the rules to allow single people in a local lockdown area to meet up with another household indoors?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-54375150

As far as i'm aware, you can't travel outside your local area (eg. Conwy) to see your 'bubble' if they elsewhere?

Yep, has to be within the same county 😫

Oh I'm so sorry I hadn't realised! I don't live in Wales but am from there and have family living there. So bloody hard keeping up with all of the rules isn't it!

I think the regulations say that if you have to leave Your area for an appropriate reason, such as work, you can only do that and should not socialise as well whilst out of the area.
And as you say, you can only bubble with someone from your own area which is utterly shit for me as my daughter lives 11 miles away but in another area, and the rest of my family a little further but in yet another area.

Cardibach that is indeed shit for you ☹️
Do you know where the source for that info regarding leaving the area for work and not socialising is please? I'm really struggling to find anything 'written'.

I suppose what I mean is regs re once you're out of Wales and into England? (Ie as opposed to being in another part of Wales).

Honestly, just do it. It’s completely arbitrary. I think it’s inhumane having laws that prevent couples being able to be together.

I would do in an instant - just need to convince my overthinking dp 🤣 as he's the one who has to travel!

He’d only be under English law when he’s in England, once he crosses the border welsh rules apply? But who knows. It’s all so complicated now, no wonder people aren’t following them.

I agree with him that’s it’s not in the spirit of the rules though.

Similar dilemmas here with my family and I living other sides of the border. We’ve convinced ourselves that once in England, English rules apply. Even if that is “not in the spirit of the rule”, English police can’t fine you for breaking a law that doesn’t apply in England.

I think technically no, he’s allowed to leave his county (eg Flintshire) to go to work in eg Chester but not meet up with anyone else after work. But he’s already in England and you were in his bubble so I can’t see What difference it would make. The rules are so bizarre at times.

Aren't our leaders always mitigating their quite serious mistakes by saying we need to use common sense?

So use common sense.

I wouldn't effectively permanently end a relationship over a level of minute detail I can guarantee you our leaders are not following.

The Prime Minister has said again this week that people need to look at the law and the guidance (two separate things) and apply common sense.

I dont think that precludes you meeting up at your home, especially if you have limited contact with other people otherwise but given you're both going into work you'd need to consider how you keep those people safe.

Some useful responses, thank you. I'm thinking back to the stress and heartache of not seeing each other for 13 weeks, which was tough to say the least. I appreciate people have far worse on their plate too, and that the rules may well change again soon. Will leave it to dp - tired of going around in circles, but mentally I think being stuck on my own with 6 kids is going to take its toll!

Work-wise I should say I'm 'on call' currently, and able to do much online, so just dp physically going into the office.

He is right.

The point is to stop the spread of the virus. Why should you be exempt?

Why can't people follow the rules?

@SkiingIsHeaven

He is right.

The point is to stop the spread of the virus. Why should you be exempt?

Why can't people follow the rules?

Personally I think some things are more important than the arbitrary rules that apparently will stop the spread of the virus. Like mental health and human relationships.

Once he is in England ( for work, English rules apply, so he can meet up with you. Drakeford has even said in the past during 5 mile rule time, that once you are in England for work, English rules apply. Your DP is being ridiculous.

Pretty sure that if in England, English rules apply. That's how all other situations work (e.g., when Wales had 5p charge for carrier bags and England didn't, you didn't have to pay 5p in Chester if you came from Wrexham, but did in Cardiff if you came from Bath).

With respect Skiing, if you take the time to read my post correctly I'm asking for clarification about the rules, and not how I can 'dodge' them. Ie. I can't find any information about my specific situation, hence the need to post in the first place!

Absolutely what @Eminybob says. The rules are ever changing, arbitrary and would exclude a huge amount of totally safe mixing - this being a case in point. Amazes me the amount of people who seem incapable of doing their own critical thinking.

You're both right. What you want to do is against the spirit of the rules but you won't face any penalties.

Thanks @diege

As asked I re-read your post and my conclusion is that he is not that into you.

HTH