Now, I thought it was a condition of planning permission that shop fronts had to encompass an element of bilingualism. Not the trading name, of course, but supporting information. Looking around town, this doesn't appear to be the case at all, so maybe I'm wrong.
Fair play to Chatwin's. Its new front has Welsh alongside English on the glazing on the long side on Wynnstay Road but other new frontages do not. Look no further than Rhuthun/Ruthin's latest business to open (on July 16th), the Ocean Pearl. Nothing in Welsh on its fascia at all. On the other hand, its predecessor, the Caffi Parc y Castell Park Café, had bilingual signage (to say that it had been feeding people for almost 50 years).
This general state of affairs is such a shame, not because bilingual information adds character to the town (although it does: consider Y Bala and Dolgellau) but because a high proportion of the area counts Welsh as their first language. It therefore makes sense to advertise goods bilingually. Not only that, it sends a signal that the town is open for business in whatever language the shopper prefers. Above all, Rhuthun is intrinsically a Welsh town, more so than any of its neighbours and, outwardly, should profess as much.
Some of the offenders are actually Welsh speakers themselves. D'oh.
Thumbs up therefore to Chatwin's; Boot's the Chemist; Siop Elfair; The Co-operative Bwyd; Popty'r Eryr Bakery; Bar Llaeth; Castle Bell; Rhuthun Décor; and to an extent Wayfarer. That just leaves the rest.
Talking of Chatwin's, it opens its doors today in Rhuthun for the first time for Sunday trading... No mention of Welsh here, though.
Ocean Pearl: beth am y geiriau "Bwyty Indiaidd"?
Fair play to Chatwin's. Its new front has Welsh alongside English on the glazing on the long side on Wynnstay Road but other new frontages do not. Look no further than Rhuthun/Ruthin's latest business to open (on July 16th), the Ocean Pearl. Nothing in Welsh on its fascia at all. On the other hand, its predecessor, the Caffi Parc y Castell Park Café, had bilingual signage (to say that it had been feeding people for almost 50 years).
This general state of affairs is such a shame, not because bilingual information adds character to the town (although it does: consider Y Bala and Dolgellau) but because a high proportion of the area counts Welsh as their first language. It therefore makes sense to advertise goods bilingually. Not only that, it sends a signal that the town is open for business in whatever language the shopper prefers. Above all, Rhuthun is intrinsically a Welsh town, more so than any of its neighbours and, outwardly, should profess as much.
Some of the offenders are actually Welsh speakers themselves. D'oh.
Thumbs up therefore to Chatwin's; Boot's the Chemist; Siop Elfair; The Co-operative Bwyd; Popty'r Eryr Bakery; Bar Llaeth; Castle Bell; Rhuthun Décor; and to an extent Wayfarer. That just leaves the rest.
