The Difference

The highways department was out this weekend renewing white and yellow lines—though generally either on the periphery of the town centre or simply renewing less controversial lines within the town centre itself. In contrast to the furore of July 2012 and again in September 2014, these lines were probably uncontroversial. They nevertheless look fresh and clean.

Rhuthun/Ruthin wasn't the only town locally over the weekend to benefit from re-lining. So was part of Dinbych.

Look at this shot near Pwll y Grawys in Dinbych town centre. The primrose-coloured double yellow lines and renewed kerb markings look as stark and brassy in Dinbych as they once did in Rhuthun when they were first marked out in July 2012 and September 2014. Around the corner, along Barker's Well, the new lines are yellow and they actually stand out less than here.

The difference between Rhuthun's 2012 markings and Dinbych's current ones, though, was that none of this in Dinbych was reported in the local newspaper (let alone on its front page) and no one on Facebook raised even so much as a single eyelash let alone a brow. Yet, Dinbych is almost as important culturally and environmentally as its finer, more splendid neighbour.  Dinbych's were renewals but it also must be mentioned that there was no fuss at all when they first went down.

Why do Ruthinians complain about such matters and those from Dinbych not?

Either it's a positive thing that Ruthinians won't let things of importance lie; or a negative one in that Ruthinans are far too quick to complain and are unjustifiably vociferous.

Most people from Rhuthun prefer the first assessment but we have to accept that most people from outside believe it's the latter. There's a view outside Rhuthun that Ruthinians are simply snobs. That's an unfair assessment but it may partly explain things. Ruthinians can nevertheless rightly think of themselves as a little élitist.

Also having received the yellow lines and kerb marking treatment this spring is Llanrhaeadr, near the school.