I wonder from where exactly did the Free Press get the idea to highlight in today's issue the closure of local high streets. Perhaps from us?
In the face of over 70 high street business closures across Sir Ddinbych/Denbighshire, the Free Press is surprisingly even-handed about apportioning blame. It duplicates the reasons we’ve given over the years: recession, supermarkets, competition from large town centres, out-of-town stores, internet shopping and so on.
But let’s be specific. In Rhuthun/Ruthin's case, there's absolutely no doubt that town centre footfall collapsed at the arrival of Tesco. This immediately led to a reduction in town centre "convenience" shops. Competing against Tesco was not and is no longer an option. That's why, for example, there's but one remaining newsagent/tobacconists in town. Later, Rhuthun flourished with a spate of new "comparison" stores. This was to be short-lived, as footfall levels affect all stores, regardless of their category. Even so, to survive, a town such as Rhuthun must offer something other than "me too" Tesco. There remain many quality independent businesses offering that something different.
With the opening last weekend of Paige fine art & framing, Rhuthun now has 17 empty shops and one empty pub. That now equates to 14 per cent of shop units unoccupied. This slight improvement isn't so bad but we know from past experience that this is volatile.
Before we're quick to condemn the giant, there's also no doubt that supermarket shopping's what people want. That's evident by the numbers visiting Tesco, from day one. True, there may be little choice now but in 2006 there were two other supermarkets and a (small) host of convenience stores in town.
And, though we would be the first to admit it wasn't scientific, the 2009 Rhuthun/Ruthin Blog survey indicated that people were mostly content with Tesco.
I just wonder whether one of the significant reasons why shops have closed locally is that the people of Rhuthun simply don't use them. If we're not prepared to help ourselves, who else is there to do it for us? If we're too quick to drive to Chester or elsewhere, we can only expect high street gaps back home. I do appreciate that the recession has cost some individuals and families their livelihoods and they can ill afford to contribute to our economy just now. But, as one of my neighbours said recently, "there's still money out there, it's just more difficult to find it". Those of us who can must now accept our part in helping Rhuthun up, not kicking it when it's down. We're not yet in such bad shape but, as Chris Tanzaro said yesterday in a comment on this very Blog, "If everyone got together and made the Square and surrounding streets a viable alternative to Tesco, may be the town could turn around." May be.
In the face of over 70 high street business closures across Sir Ddinbych/Denbighshire, the Free Press is surprisingly even-handed about apportioning blame. It duplicates the reasons we’ve given over the years: recession, supermarkets, competition from large town centres, out-of-town stores, internet shopping and so on.
But let’s be specific. In Rhuthun/Ruthin's case, there's absolutely no doubt that town centre footfall collapsed at the arrival of Tesco. This immediately led to a reduction in town centre "convenience" shops. Competing against Tesco was not and is no longer an option. That's why, for example, there's but one remaining newsagent/tobacconists in town. Later, Rhuthun flourished with a spate of new "comparison" stores. This was to be short-lived, as footfall levels affect all stores, regardless of their category. Even so, to survive, a town such as Rhuthun must offer something other than "me too" Tesco. There remain many quality independent businesses offering that something different.
With the opening last weekend of Paige fine art & framing, Rhuthun now has 17 empty shops and one empty pub. That now equates to 14 per cent of shop units unoccupied. This slight improvement isn't so bad but we know from past experience that this is volatile.
Before we're quick to condemn the giant, there's also no doubt that supermarket shopping's what people want. That's evident by the numbers visiting Tesco, from day one. True, there may be little choice now but in 2006 there were two other supermarkets and a (small) host of convenience stores in town.
And, though we would be the first to admit it wasn't scientific, the 2009 Rhuthun/Ruthin Blog survey indicated that people were mostly content with Tesco.
I just wonder whether one of the significant reasons why shops have closed locally is that the people of Rhuthun simply don't use them. If we're not prepared to help ourselves, who else is there to do it for us? If we're too quick to drive to Chester or elsewhere, we can only expect high street gaps back home. I do appreciate that the recession has cost some individuals and families their livelihoods and they can ill afford to contribute to our economy just now. But, as one of my neighbours said recently, "there's still money out there, it's just more difficult to find it". Those of us who can must now accept our part in helping Rhuthun up, not kicking it when it's down. We're not yet in such bad shape but, as Chris Tanzaro said yesterday in a comment on this very Blog, "If everyone got together and made the Square and surrounding streets a viable alternative to Tesco, may be the town could turn around." May be.