More Rhuthun/Ruthin people prefer to do their non-grocery shopping in Chester or Wrexham than Rhuthun, research for the county council has revealed.
This was one of the results of a residents' survey. The council asked a sample of people who lived no more than five miles from each of Denbighshire's towns, inter alia,
Responses in Rhuthun's case showed that the top three destinations were:
But, for Rhuthun, there was some comfort.
Across the whole of Denbighshire, Prestatyn & Rhyl were the most popular non-grocery shopping destinations. Two years ago, I doubt Prestatyn would even have been considered a shopping destination at all but for the new Parc Siopa Prestatyn. Although there follows a string of destinations behind the Big Two, note that for Denbighshire residents Rhuthun is the third most popular shopping destination within the county.
In fact, Rhuthun's almost as popular as Broughton Park and, for a population half the size of Dinbych, it's significantly ahead of its northern neighbour. Basically, preference for Rhuthun was half as much again when compared to Dinbych yet Dinbych, being a bigger town, should attract a higher score. Weighting this for population, Rhuthun is actually three times more popular. Note how Yr Wyddgrug/Mold doesn't feature.
The report goes on to say that,
In Rhuthun's case, you could argue that it has a reasonable grocery offer these days but that its non-grocery comparison shopping, though excellent for the town's size, lacks larger department stores. Like Llangollen & Corwen, Rhuthun is also isolated from Denbighshire's main towns of Prestatyn & Rhyl and the choice of non-grocery shopping destination is bound to be outside the county (it's just a pity that the preferred location isn't Rhuthun itself).
There's more bad news, though, I'm afraid.
Satisfaction levels were poor among those who lived locally and chose Rhuthun as their preferred non-grocery shopping destination. Directly from the report on Rhuthun came:
Yet, it would seem that people couldn't quite make up their minds about parking. The report highlights respondents' top three best & worst features of each town. In Rhuthun's case, they were:
BEST
Finally, it's interesting that 78 per cent of respondents felt that Rhuthun's range of shops required improvement. Here's a real conundrum. Rhuthun sells itself on an independent retail ticket. Yet, three quarters of respondents who preferred Rhuthun to other locations criticised the town's shopping. Relative to its population, Rhuthun has more shops than towns of a similar size (e.g. Rhuddlan) and actually more than Dinbych, a town double Rhuthun's size.
Was this a rogue result? Or do people prefer Rhuthun not for its shops—as we like to think—but for other things such as its appearance, ambiance, feel… and even its leisure facilities. A marketing strategy based on retail may not actually be the way forward.
Denbighshire Town Centre Parking & Traffic Management Study, Mott MacDonald, December 2014
This was one of the results of a residents' survey. The council asked a sample of people who lived no more than five miles from each of Denbighshire's towns, inter alia,
"Which location do you visit most often for shopping trips [for non-grocery purchases]?"
- Chester (24 per cent of respondents or a quarter)
- Wrexham (20 per cent or one fifth)
- Rhuthun (17 per cent or one sixth)
But, for Rhuthun, there was some comfort.
Across the whole of Denbighshire, Prestatyn & Rhyl were the most popular non-grocery shopping destinations. Two years ago, I doubt Prestatyn would even have been considered a shopping destination at all but for the new Parc Siopa Prestatyn. Although there follows a string of destinations behind the Big Two, note that for Denbighshire residents Rhuthun is the third most popular shopping destination within the county.
The report goes on to say that,
"Respondents within the catchments of Ruthin, Llangollen and Corwen show the highest proportion of those choosing to shop in locations outside of Denbighshire, with Wrexham and Chester being strong attractors"Why might this be? A combination of factors. In Llangollen & Corwen's case, there is a much more limited retail offer (for non-grocery shopping). A lack of larger grocery outlets will also sway people away from these towns.
In Rhuthun's case, you could argue that it has a reasonable grocery offer these days but that its non-grocery comparison shopping, though excellent for the town's size, lacks larger department stores. Like Llangollen & Corwen, Rhuthun is also isolated from Denbighshire's main towns of Prestatyn & Rhyl and the choice of non-grocery shopping destination is bound to be outside the county (it's just a pity that the preferred location isn't Rhuthun itself).
There's more bad news, though, I'm afraid.
Satisfaction levels were poor among those who lived locally and chose Rhuthun as their preferred non-grocery shopping destination. Directly from the report on Rhuthun came:
- Satisfaction with the range & price of products on offer, the availability of special offers and the ability to collect/return goods was *significantly* below the average for all other locations
- Satisfaction with the cost of car parking was also *significantly* below the average for all other locations
- Satisfaction with the availability of parking was also lower than the average
Yet, it would seem that people couldn't quite make up their minds about parking. The report highlights respondents' top three best & worst features of each town. In Rhuthun's case, they were:
BEST
- Appearance of town (76 per cent)
- Car parking facilities (sic) (46 per cent)
- Leisure/entertainment facilities (46 per cent)
- Range of shops (78 per cent)
- Improvements to car parking (57 per cent)
- Improvements to locations (48 per cent)
Finally, it's interesting that 78 per cent of respondents felt that Rhuthun's range of shops required improvement. Here's a real conundrum. Rhuthun sells itself on an independent retail ticket. Yet, three quarters of respondents who preferred Rhuthun to other locations criticised the town's shopping. Relative to its population, Rhuthun has more shops than towns of a similar size (e.g. Rhuddlan) and actually more than Dinbych, a town double Rhuthun's size.
Was this a rogue result? Or do people prefer Rhuthun not for its shops—as we like to think—but for other things such as its appearance, ambiance, feel… and even its leisure facilities. A marketing strategy based on retail may not actually be the way forward.
Denbighshire Town Centre Parking & Traffic Management Study, Mott MacDonald, December 2014