The owner of an amusement park in Towyn says the decision not not to allow it to open, when a children’s fair in Rhyl three miles away can, is “absolutely bonkers”.

Adam Williams owns Llandudno Pier and Tir Prince in Towyn and was planning to reopen his attractions on Saturday.

Outdoor attractions in Wales had been told they could reopen from last Monday.

However he says a call from a Conwy County Council trading standards officer stopped those plans in their tracks.

He said: “We unfurloughed the staff and were getting prepared then I got a call on Wednesday saying we were not allowed to open.

“We are an outdoor tourist attraction and many had already opened on Monday.

“The Trading Standards officer said we are a funfair, so we can’t open – yet in Rhyl the rides on the Children’s Village have opened.

“Zipworld can open and Barry Island can open but we can’t. It’s absolutely bonkers.”

It is believed the ruling also applies to Knightley’s Fun Park, just down the road from Tir Prince in Towyn.

Mr Williams added: “We have literally got 12 busy weekends left of the season. Potentially we could have to wait for another four weeks.

“I think it supposed to be travelling funfairs. I think they missed the word travelling out of the regulations and I understand that because they’re travelling from town to town.

“We’ve won awards for being an amusement park.

“Although I don’t believe we fit in the funfair category we’re being treated like second class citizens.

“There’s more than 1,000 people employed between here and Llandudno Pier.

“It’s about being controlling Covid. If we are Covid-safe we should be allowed to open.”

Conwy council leader Sam Rowlands said he believes it may have been an error in the legislation – and meant for travelling fairs, rather than static attractions.

He added: “I’m really unhappy the funfairs have been singled out as the only businesses not allowed to open.

“This weekend businesses were planning to open but they’re not allowed when other outdoor attractions are.

“It smacks of inequality because if you can afford to spend £40 you can go to Oakwood theme park in South Wales and that’s fine, but you can’t spend £3 on the dodgems in Towyn.

“This is not supporting business in North Wales and I’m really unhappy about it.”

Conwy county council said it was abiding by Welsh Government guidelines.

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “Funfairs are usually much smaller than theme parks, making it more difficult to maintain social distancing and manage crowds and queues.

“It may also be more difficult to put in place measures outlined in the Welsh Government’s tourism and hospitality guidance to support a phased reopening and reduce the risk of coronavirus.

“We will continue to look at how we can support funfairs to reopen safely.”