Back from my New Year’s break and feeling all the better for it! But if you think Rhuthun is beset with economic woes, I can assure you first hand that matters aren’t any better elsewhere. In fact, they’re worse. Staying even a short while in a formerly prosperous part of England brought it very much home. Proportionately, Rhuthun’s doing better. It’s just probably not doing best.
If 2008 was a difficult year economically, and as recession turns to depression, what will 2009 hold?
Did anyone catch the pundit recently on BBC Radio Cymru’s flagship Post Cyntaf programme (‘First Post’, 0700-0830)? Speaking at the time of Woolworth’s collapse, the interviewee predicted that the High Street would see a *further* 10-20 per cent of shops closing… by March this year.
Even in a good year, after the January sales have settled, the first two months of the year are tough trading times. As Rhuthun’s traders struggle back in earnest from today, we wish them well as the chills of winter persist—literally and metaphorically.
Rhuthun has of course weathered past recessions. On the credit side, we still have a lot for which to be thankful. Independent traders don’t always suffer in the same way as shareholder-capitalised giants: family firms & sole traders can and do expect tighter margins when the going gets tough in ways corporates don’t. And remember there’s still money about.
And Rhuthun is still a wonderful place in which to live. We have plenty in our favour. Cheaper housing than across the English boarder. A centre for the applied crafts that’s bringing in visitors. A unique heritage other small towns envy. A high quality of life, relatively little crime and few social problems.
I compare Rhuthun to the city in England from which I have just returned. “Grim” is the word I would use to describe the immediate outlook for this once affluent English centre. Rhuthun may still face difficulties but it isn’t “grim”. Small town Wales seems a safer bet at the moment. We still have something that differentiates us and long my we hold on to it.
If 2008 was a difficult year economically, and as recession turns to depression, what will 2009 hold?
Did anyone catch the pundit recently on BBC Radio Cymru’s flagship Post Cyntaf programme (‘First Post’, 0700-0830)? Speaking at the time of Woolworth’s collapse, the interviewee predicted that the High Street would see a *further* 10-20 per cent of shops closing… by March this year.
Even in a good year, after the January sales have settled, the first two months of the year are tough trading times. As Rhuthun’s traders struggle back in earnest from today, we wish them well as the chills of winter persist—literally and metaphorically.
Rhuthun has of course weathered past recessions. On the credit side, we still have a lot for which to be thankful. Independent traders don’t always suffer in the same way as shareholder-capitalised giants: family firms & sole traders can and do expect tighter margins when the going gets tough in ways corporates don’t. And remember there’s still money about.
And Rhuthun is still a wonderful place in which to live. We have plenty in our favour. Cheaper housing than across the English boarder. A centre for the applied crafts that’s bringing in visitors. A unique heritage other small towns envy. A high quality of life, relatively little crime and few social problems.
I compare Rhuthun to the city in England from which I have just returned. “Grim” is the word I would use to describe the immediate outlook for this once affluent English centre. Rhuthun may still face difficulties but it isn’t “grim”. Small town Wales seems a safer bet at the moment. We still have something that differentiates us and long my we hold on to it.