THE clocks should not be turned back this winter so that people can have more daylight in the evening during the coronavirus lockdown, a councillor has said.

Mabon ap Gwynfor, who represents the Denbighshire County Council wards of Corwen and Llandrillo, said that darker evenings after the clocks go back by one hour on Sunday, October 25 will add to a difficult winter and have knock-on effects on people’s mental health.

He said that daylight saving time, the practice of advancing clocks during the summer months so that darkness falls later each day according to the clock, should continue throughout the winter period.

“Some people already get low and even depressed following the turning back of the clocks,” said Cllr ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymru’s Welsh Parliament candidate for Dwyfor Meirionnydd.

“As the days get shorter a lot of people will find this winter a very challenging time, especially if we’re going to see rolling lockdowns and various restrictions on meeting friends and family.

“I’m seriously concerned about people’s mental wellbeing looking ahead to this winter, and a sudden loss of an hour’s daylight in the evening will affect some people.

“We know too that being outdoors is preferable in combating this virus, and therefore it’s better to have more daylight when people are going about their business, urging them to exercise.

“The government should consider keeping us on Summer-time for the wellbeing of the population.”