Das Gesamtkonzept. The Masterplan, that’s what we’ll have. Sounds very Teutonic. And since it emanates from the Mayor’s Office, it may well be. After all, the Mayor runs the very German-sounding Manorhaus.
Denbighshire and its surroundings are a collection of market towns among rural hinterlands. They all have their unique features and none more so than Rhuthun/Ruthin. And their futures are all very uncertain. Rhuthun is threatened by a number of factors, most of which have appeared from time to time for discussion on this blog:
It was back in 2007 that the town council apparently identified a need for an environmental Masterplan that would form a framework for the future character of Rhuthun. Having secured the support of his alma mater, the Welsh School of Architecture, Caerdyfdd, the week before last saw the mayor launch his Masterplan. During his year of office, you certainly cannot accuse him of sitting on his hands. It’s entitled “Ruthin: Market Town of the Future”. In other words, Das Gesamtkonzept.
What’s very much unique about the Masterplan is that it focuses on us, you and me, here and now. There are any number of plans for larger urban centres, even for conurbations, for swathes of rural areas, but few at a human level, at a town level. If successful, others will queue up to emulate Rhuthun. Rhuthun’s name should be heard above the national debate about development, above a noise that currently masks Rhuthun.
The Masterplan seeks to study the built environmental of Rhuthun in the context of an historical market town. Retaining Rhuthun’s cultural and physical identities—what makes Rhuthun unique—it will then develop a regeneration strategy for potential future change. From the Masterplan will come “future incremental projects that can then deliver a more coherent and co-ordinated whole.”
This means there should be a series of related activities that need not be delivered all at once, which can build on each other consistently where the sum is much greater than the parts.
If there’s any criticism at this stage, the Msterplan’s focused more or less on architecture and the built environment. Important though these are, there are other considerations. It needs to be multi-disciplinary in nature.
As the Masterplan evolves, so will public consultation and participation. The aim is for the Masterplan to be yours and mine. That’s not easy, as we know that when it comes down to it, it’s the same old people who get involved. That needs to change. Expect the Rhuthun / Ruthin Blog to have something to say as well, as the Masterplan develops.
For now, though, we simply wish to give three cheers for the Masterplan and wish it well. It may just be our salvation. Unter dem Beifall der Menge!
Want to know more? Rhuthun’s very own Derek Jones has written a piece for the Institute of Welsh Affairs, which is available here. DJ edits O Gwmpas y Dre/Town & Around, the newsletter of the Rhuthun Civic Association. On the back of the latest edition (available from the front counter in the Library), it reads, “Derek s not the author of the Ruthin Blog, as has been rumoured”. You know you mustn’t believe everything you see in print.
Denbighshire and its surroundings are a collection of market towns among rural hinterlands. They all have their unique features and none more so than Rhuthun/Ruthin. And their futures are all very uncertain. Rhuthun is threatened by a number of factors, most of which have appeared from time to time for discussion on this blog:
- Difficulty in competing with larger centres—for shopping, leisure, etc
- Poorly paid local employment
- Out-commuting for work, shopping, leisure, medical care, education
- Smaller than average shop unit square footage
- Large, dominant supermarket on the fringe of the town centre
- A consequent town centre change from convenience to comparison shopping
- A fragile town centre economy with fewer footfalls
- Insufficient base population to sustain the town
- An emphasis on the visitor economy
- Competing needs of locals versus visitors
It was back in 2007 that the town council apparently identified a need for an environmental Masterplan that would form a framework for the future character of Rhuthun. Having secured the support of his alma mater, the Welsh School of Architecture, Caerdyfdd, the week before last saw the mayor launch his Masterplan. During his year of office, you certainly cannot accuse him of sitting on his hands. It’s entitled “Ruthin: Market Town of the Future”. In other words, Das Gesamtkonzept.
What’s very much unique about the Masterplan is that it focuses on us, you and me, here and now. There are any number of plans for larger urban centres, even for conurbations, for swathes of rural areas, but few at a human level, at a town level. If successful, others will queue up to emulate Rhuthun. Rhuthun’s name should be heard above the national debate about development, above a noise that currently masks Rhuthun.
The Masterplan seeks to study the built environmental of Rhuthun in the context of an historical market town. Retaining Rhuthun’s cultural and physical identities—what makes Rhuthun unique—it will then develop a regeneration strategy for potential future change. From the Masterplan will come “future incremental projects that can then deliver a more coherent and co-ordinated whole.”
This means there should be a series of related activities that need not be delivered all at once, which can build on each other consistently where the sum is much greater than the parts.
If there’s any criticism at this stage, the Msterplan’s focused more or less on architecture and the built environment. Important though these are, there are other considerations. It needs to be multi-disciplinary in nature.
As the Masterplan evolves, so will public consultation and participation. The aim is for the Masterplan to be yours and mine. That’s not easy, as we know that when it comes down to it, it’s the same old people who get involved. That needs to change. Expect the Rhuthun / Ruthin Blog to have something to say as well, as the Masterplan develops.
For now, though, we simply wish to give three cheers for the Masterplan and wish it well. It may just be our salvation. Unter dem Beifall der Menge!
Want to know more? Rhuthun’s very own Derek Jones has written a piece for the Institute of Welsh Affairs, which is available here. DJ edits O Gwmpas y Dre/Town & Around, the newsletter of the Rhuthun Civic Association. On the back of the latest edition (available from the front counter in the Library), it reads, “Derek s not the author of the Ruthin Blog, as has been rumoured”. You know you mustn’t believe everything you see in print.
Tags:
Masterplan