Time was, in town, the only Saturday afternoon that was quiet was during the FA football cup final. And, even then, the morning would make up for it, as people rushed around. There'd even be a post-cup final spurt after 5 p.m.
Now, though, Saturday afternoon is flat. In fact, the morning isn't that hot, either. Saturday's produce market managed about a half-dozen stalls. Then again, the army was parading through Dinbych that morning & early afternoon.
So, is this unique to Rhuthun?
In an attempt to find out, I delayed my return from the South by 27 hours, to take a Saturday afternoon stroll around four market towns in mid-Wales, all with some similarities to Rhuthun—usually with a Tesco, usually somewhat "isolated" from neighbouring towns, and often strongly featuring independent traders. How do Saturday afternoons compare?
1. Llanfair ym Muallt/Builth Wells
Nearest larger settlements: Aberystwyth (48 miles); Henffordd/Hereford (41); Merthyr (41); Leominster (35); Llandrindod (8)
The population is less than half the size of Rhuthun. Arriving early Saturday afternoon, there were plenty of cars both parked and traversing the A470 High Street, but few people on the pavement or seemingly in shops. No Tesco here but even the modern edge of town former Co-op (now Eurospar) was struggling.
2. Y Drenewydd/Newtown
Nearest larger settlements: Aberystwyth (43 miles); Yr Amwythig/Shrewsbury (32); Croesoswallt/Oswestry (29)
Y Drenewydd is over twice the size of Rhuthun and supports such town centre stores as W H Smith, Peacock's, New Look, Dorothy Perkins, Clark's and The Carphone Warehouse. Comparisons are therefore less appropriate and, on this particular Saturday afternoon, there was a busy town carnival, as well.
The town appeared reasonably busy but belying this were shops empty or almost empty of customers. As examples, there were 11 customers in W H Smith; four in Superdrug; and three in Trade Secrets. Go to any of these larger stores on a Saturday afternoon in Chester and they'd be full (assuming Trade Secrets is actually there).
Tesco, which opened in February 2010, was doing well, though the carnival some distance away was probably having an impact, as the large Tesco car park was between one third and a half full. Sir Terry wouldn't be complaining, though. And the former edge-of-town Co-op has closed.
3. Y Trallwng/Welshpool
Nearest larger settlements: Croesoswallt/Oswestry (16 miles); Yr Amwythig/Shrewsbury (20); Wrecsam (31)
The population of Welshpool is about a fifth larger than Rhuthun. Like Newtown, Welshpool supports a large rural catchment. Here, it was easy to find an on-street parking space. Sure, there were people wandering around, but not loads of them.
As at Y Drenewydd, shops were empty or empty-ish. When I went into W H Smith, there were four customers (and three staff); Trade Secrets had five; Superdrug just one; and Boot's the Chemist bucked the trend, with nine, four of whom were queuing at the prescription counter.
Y Trallwng also features a medium sized Tesco that opened just before Christmas 2010. It boasts that it contributes more energy than it consumes. It was healthily busy and Tesco would have no complaints whatsoever.
4. Llandrindod/Llandrindod Wells
Nearest larger settlements: Aberystwyth (46 miles); Henffordd/Hereford (41); Leominster (35); Y Drewnewydd/Newtown (27)
This was the biggest surprise. It's a town of similar size and character to Rhuthun. In fact, here's a seemingly prosperous town that is fairly isolated from neighbouring centres. It's the administrative centre of Powys and this in itself would attract and retain a disproportionately high wealth. The town retains its Victorian spa elegance. People who move there presumably seek isolation rather than urbanisation. It features largely independent shops. You'd therefore expect a busy town centre.
Last Saturday afternoon, the main Middleton Street had more parking spaces than cars. Pedestrians had all but deserted the sunny street. There was a clot of seven tourists out but precious few others. A small number of shops had closed for the afternoon. On one side of Middleton Street, there were just a total of *two* customers in all the shops, combined. Round the corner, at Boot's the Chemist, the town centre's sole chain, were five customers, two of whom were after their prescribed drugs.
And Llandrindod also has its Tesco, since July 2010, on the former KwikSave site. Sorry, I didn't venture in. The car park was as well stocked with parked cars, though, as no doubt were the shelves with groceries.
And what of Rhuthun? With competitors Chester (24 miles), Wrecsam (19), Rhyl (18) and Mold (11) all proportionately nearer to Rhuthun than for its mid-Wales counterparts, Rhuthun is seemingly at a disadvantage. But since the Saturday afternoon phenomenon seems pretty universal, I don't think Rhuthun needs to beat itself up about it. We're all in the same boat. Larger town centres, out of town shopping and food shopping in supermarkets all mean that Saturdays have changed.
The worrying factor is the impact of this on *all* our smaller towns. Rhuthun isn't unique. And we're already seeing the evidence...
Now, though, Saturday afternoon is flat. In fact, the morning isn't that hot, either. Saturday's produce market managed about a half-dozen stalls. Then again, the army was parading through Dinbych that morning & early afternoon.So, is this unique to Rhuthun?
In an attempt to find out, I delayed my return from the South by 27 hours, to take a Saturday afternoon stroll around four market towns in mid-Wales, all with some similarities to Rhuthun—usually with a Tesco, usually somewhat "isolated" from neighbouring towns, and often strongly featuring independent traders. How do Saturday afternoons compare?
1. Llanfair ym Muallt/Builth Wells
Nearest larger settlements: Aberystwyth (48 miles); Henffordd/Hereford (41); Merthyr (41); Leominster (35); Llandrindod (8)
The population is less than half the size of Rhuthun. Arriving early Saturday afternoon, there were plenty of cars both parked and traversing the A470 High Street, but few people on the pavement or seemingly in shops. No Tesco here but even the modern edge of town former Co-op (now Eurospar) was struggling.
2. Y Drenewydd/Newtown
Nearest larger settlements: Aberystwyth (43 miles); Yr Amwythig/Shrewsbury (32); Croesoswallt/Oswestry (29)
Y Drenewydd is over twice the size of Rhuthun and supports such town centre stores as W H Smith, Peacock's, New Look, Dorothy Perkins, Clark's and The Carphone Warehouse. Comparisons are therefore less appropriate and, on this particular Saturday afternoon, there was a busy town carnival, as well.The town appeared reasonably busy but belying this were shops empty or almost empty of customers. As examples, there were 11 customers in W H Smith; four in Superdrug; and three in Trade Secrets. Go to any of these larger stores on a Saturday afternoon in Chester and they'd be full (assuming Trade Secrets is actually there).
Tesco, which opened in February 2010, was doing well, though the carnival some distance away was probably having an impact, as the large Tesco car park was between one third and a half full. Sir Terry wouldn't be complaining, though. And the former edge-of-town Co-op has closed.
3. Y Trallwng/Welshpool
Nearest larger settlements: Croesoswallt/Oswestry (16 miles); Yr Amwythig/Shrewsbury (20); Wrecsam (31)
The population of Welshpool is about a fifth larger than Rhuthun. Like Newtown, Welshpool supports a large rural catchment. Here, it was easy to find an on-street parking space. Sure, there were people wandering around, but not loads of them.As at Y Drenewydd, shops were empty or empty-ish. When I went into W H Smith, there were four customers (and three staff); Trade Secrets had five; Superdrug just one; and Boot's the Chemist bucked the trend, with nine, four of whom were queuing at the prescription counter.
Y Trallwng also features a medium sized Tesco that opened just before Christmas 2010. It boasts that it contributes more energy than it consumes. It was healthily busy and Tesco would have no complaints whatsoever.
4. Llandrindod/Llandrindod Wells
Nearest larger settlements: Aberystwyth (46 miles); Henffordd/Hereford (41); Leominster (35); Y Drewnewydd/Newtown (27)
This was the biggest surprise. It's a town of similar size and character to Rhuthun. In fact, here's a seemingly prosperous town that is fairly isolated from neighbouring centres. It's the administrative centre of Powys and this in itself would attract and retain a disproportionately high wealth. The town retains its Victorian spa elegance. People who move there presumably seek isolation rather than urbanisation. It features largely independent shops. You'd therefore expect a busy town centre.Last Saturday afternoon, the main Middleton Street had more parking spaces than cars. Pedestrians had all but deserted the sunny street. There was a clot of seven tourists out but precious few others. A small number of shops had closed for the afternoon. On one side of Middleton Street, there were just a total of *two* customers in all the shops, combined. Round the corner, at Boot's the Chemist, the town centre's sole chain, were five customers, two of whom were after their prescribed drugs.
And Llandrindod also has its Tesco, since July 2010, on the former KwikSave site. Sorry, I didn't venture in. The car park was as well stocked with parked cars, though, as no doubt were the shelves with groceries.
And what of Rhuthun? With competitors Chester (24 miles), Wrecsam (19), Rhyl (18) and Mold (11) all proportionately nearer to Rhuthun than for its mid-Wales counterparts, Rhuthun is seemingly at a disadvantage. But since the Saturday afternoon phenomenon seems pretty universal, I don't think Rhuthun needs to beat itself up about it. We're all in the same boat. Larger town centres, out of town shopping and food shopping in supermarkets all mean that Saturdays have changed.
The worrying factor is the impact of this on *all* our smaller towns. Rhuthun isn't unique. And we're already seeing the evidence...