Eleven businesses in Barry have been issued improvement notices by Shared Regulatory Services, the body attached to the Council that ensures businesses are abiding by Covid-19 restrictions.

SRS has now issued 80 improvement notices in the Vale, and nine businesses have been ordered to close altogether.

But some independent businesses that received these notices the inspection processes and changing regulations were unfair.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council says it is working closely with businesses to keep people safe as non-essential retail reopens.

Last week Dave Holland, Head of SRS, said: "We're delighted that more businesses are now able to start operating again after an extremely difficult period.

"Strict measures are in place to protect customers and employees we will do all we can to help all businesses operate in a safe manner.

"We aim to work in partnership with businesses, assisting them in complying with the regulations.

"However, where businesses refuse to follow guidance and persistently break the rules, we will not hesitate to take decisive action. This could involve closing premises until necessary improvements are made."

An improvement notice was issued to Betfred on Holton Road in December 2020 for not enforcing social distancing of two metres between people of different households at the premises.

"We're now operating a one-way system around the shop," a staff member told Nub News.

"We're trying our best, it is difficult as you can imagine. We're making people have their masks on.

"We had another visit on Tuesday 13 April, and everything was all good."

Tattoo parlour Pushing Ink received an improvement notice in December, for the same reason, but owner Carl Donavon said he felt "harassed" by SRS.

"I can't wear a mask due to a heart condition, but when you're tattooing the visor fogs up and you can't see what you're doing," he said.

"I've got to put ink on the line, I can't do that wrong. So, it's difficult.

"I'm a small business, but I've seen people at big supermarkets not wearing masks. Surely that's spreading Covid?

"I don't see why they're harassing small businesses like me.

"I do feel unfairly targeted. I've got signs in the window, a one-way system, less customers, Covid consent forms and I wear PPE. What more do they want?"

Owner of Down to the Wood barbers Jack Williams was also frustrated by his inspection experiences.

"We've not had a very good experience with it to be honest," he told Nub News.

"The first few visits they told us one thing, and then the next time they told us something different.

"We were wearing normal masks for months and they didn't say anything about them. Then on the next visit we were told we had to wear Type IIR medical masks.

"I had a 'final warning' about goggles and visors, but during earlier visits Covid inspectors told me not to bother because they were 'pointless'."

Jack described how police officers had accompanied inspectors during visits.

"We tried to ask questions and the police stepped in saying 'don't get like that'," Jack said.

"All we were doing was asking so we could understand the rules.

"But the last two visits have been good; we've built a bit of a relationship."

Staff at Brow Bar on Holton Road were informed they could not carry out threading treatment without the correct protective gear.

One member of staff told Nub News that most of their SRS visits had gone well, but one incident left her feeling embarrassed and intimidated.

"On one of the visits there were two inspectors and two police officers," she said.

"The shop was 'full', obviously all our customers were two metres apart. We were all wearing masks and gloves.

"One of the inspectors started pointing her finger at us. She was totally rude.

"I think she assumed we couldn't speak English because we're from an Asian background.

"The reason I think that is because you wouldn't point at a person you think can understand you.

"All my customers told her not to be so rude.

"I asked if we could speak somewhere not in front of all my customers, I found it embarrassing and intimidating.

"It was playing in my head all day after that.

"But apart from that the other inspector was lovely, it's been fine. It's nice to know where we're at and what we do or don't need.

"We've been told we need to wear a mask and a screen shield, which we're doing," she said.

A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesperson said: "Supermarkets as well as independent businesses are regularly visited by staff from Shared Regulatory Services (SRS), the body responsible for ensuring businesses comply with Covid-19 regulations across Cardiff, Bridgend and the Vale.

"This is to offer them support in complying with these rules and to ensure law is applied consistently in each case. Any concerns relating to how supermarkets are operating should be reported to SRS so they can be investigated.

"Welsh Government guidance on the precautions necessary for close contact businesses has evolved over time, but since this sector last reopened the advice is clear.

"Customers are required to wear face coverings while staff are required to wear a Type II medical grade mask and visor. Safety guidance is constantly being reviewed so for the latest information business owners are asked to check the Welsh Government website or contact SRS.

"Concerns relating to specific businesses should be raised with SRS so they can be investigated and any suggestion that officers have behaved inappropriately towards businesses owners is a matter taken extremely seriously.

"It is at odds with SRS's Compliance and Enforcement Policy, which specifically sets out the need for fairness, consistency and equality. Such an allegation should be made to SRS so it can be investigated.

"SRS enforcement staff work alongside Police Officers to form Covid-19 Joint Enforcement Teams, a model that has been adopted throughout Wales.

"The different agencies have different enforcement powers under WG legislation and, depending on the nature of the business, it can be appropriate for both to visit premises together. In the case of the takeaway supply of food and drink, for example, SRS staff are able to ensure the business is doing all that is reasonable to put COVID safety measures in place. South Wales Police colleagues then have the power to deal with the issue of people gathering in the vicinity."

The Council says it has been in contact with business owners throughout the crisis, helping them apply for financial support and providing guidance on how to operate safely when rules allow.

To protect the public, officers will also monitor businesses, offering advice on improvements that may need to be made and taking enforcement action if required.

For more information on how to operate a business safely, visit the SRS website.