There’s been quite some healthy debate on this blog following a recent post on Glasdir, as to whether Rhuthun/Ruthin is a dormitory town*.
In support of the premise that Rhuthun is indeed dormitory in nature, a town of some 5,000 people is unlikely to provide significant numbers of “quality”, well paid jobs. A town as attractive as Rhuthun will also understandably draw those who feel their quality of life would be enhanced by moving there - hence what will undoubtedly be the appeal of the Glasdir housing development.
We would therefore contend that Rhuthun is in fact dormitory, that most people find employment elsewhere. Perhaps they would like to work locally but it’s unlikely that they can. We postulate this because we feel there is some considerable evidence for people having to leave the town and its hinterland to find work:
The Welsh assembly government recognises three economic drivers in north east Wales providing significant and often better-paid employment – Wrecsam, Deeside and Llandudno/Bae Colwyn Bay. Denbighshire is sited between these nodes, with Rhuthun up to 45 minutes distant from each.
There are even larger and more significant employment “pulls” in Chester & Merseyside and Greater Manchester.
The nearest larger (regional) shopping centres are up to 45mins distant: Wrecsam, Broughton, Chester, Llandudno.
Accident and acute hospitals – as health nodal employment attractors offering well paid employment – are between 30 and 45 minutes distant (Ysbytai Glan Clwyd a Wrecsam Maelor).
FE colleges are at least 45 minutes away (even our young people need to travel), at Coleg Llandrillo, Coleg Iâl (Wrecsam) and Deeside College, as is the nearest HE college (NEWI Wrecsam).
Traditional local farming and local forestry are declining and little remains at the once large Forestry Commission offices near Clawddnewydd.
So, what’s Rhuthun got, employment wise? It does have a county hall (other council being scattered throughout the county) and Ysgol Brynhyfryd, both of which offer reasonable compensation. But even with these, a significant number commute in to Rhuthun, or have moved in to take advantage of the jobs on offer. To her credit, though, the head mistress of the school does live in the town.
Oh and there's Tesco's. Some 150 jobs is not to be sneezed at, even if most are shop floor and at the lower end of the pay scale. And, yes, there are fewer of them than Tesco initially promised.
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* a settlement where many people live but in which they tend not to work – they simply commute out each day.
In support of the premise that Rhuthun is indeed dormitory in nature, a town of some 5,000 people is unlikely to provide significant numbers of “quality”, well paid jobs. A town as attractive as Rhuthun will also understandably draw those who feel their quality of life would be enhanced by moving there - hence what will undoubtedly be the appeal of the Glasdir housing development.
We would therefore contend that Rhuthun is in fact dormitory, that most people find employment elsewhere. Perhaps they would like to work locally but it’s unlikely that they can. We postulate this because we feel there is some considerable evidence for people having to leave the town and its hinterland to find work:
The Welsh assembly government recognises three economic drivers in north east Wales providing significant and often better-paid employment – Wrecsam, Deeside and Llandudno/Bae Colwyn Bay. Denbighshire is sited between these nodes, with Rhuthun up to 45 minutes distant from each.
There are even larger and more significant employment “pulls” in Chester & Merseyside and Greater Manchester.
The nearest larger (regional) shopping centres are up to 45mins distant: Wrecsam, Broughton, Chester, Llandudno.
Accident and acute hospitals – as health nodal employment attractors offering well paid employment – are between 30 and 45 minutes distant (Ysbytai Glan Clwyd a Wrecsam Maelor).
FE colleges are at least 45 minutes away (even our young people need to travel), at Coleg Llandrillo, Coleg Iâl (Wrecsam) and Deeside College, as is the nearest HE college (NEWI Wrecsam).
Traditional local farming and local forestry are declining and little remains at the once large Forestry Commission offices near Clawddnewydd.
So, what’s Rhuthun got, employment wise? It does have a county hall (other council being scattered throughout the county) and Ysgol Brynhyfryd, both of which offer reasonable compensation. But even with these, a significant number commute in to Rhuthun, or have moved in to take advantage of the jobs on offer. To her credit, though, the head mistress of the school does live in the town.
Oh and there's Tesco's. Some 150 jobs is not to be sneezed at, even if most are shop floor and at the lower end of the pay scale. And, yes, there are fewer of them than Tesco initially promised.
_______
* a settlement where many people live but in which they tend not to work – they simply commute out each day.