There are few opportunities indeed for ordinary subjects to try to influence the future development of their town. This week is one such rare occurrence. On display at the Craft Centre is an exhibition entitled Rhuthun/Ruthin Market Town of the Future 2 aka Masterplan 2. It reprises Gavin Harris's 2011 Masterplan by offering concrete suggestions as to what our town might look like in the years ahead. It is important enough to provoke a response from each of us.
Central to the proposals was what to do with St Peter's Square. We've long suggested that the Square should either be fully pedestrianised, partly pedestrianised or have pedestrian priority. Parked cars and through traffic completely spoil what is our most important asset. The early 1960s roundabout does the Square no favours and it makes it difficult to cross the Square on foot. How much nicer, then, were this area to be a truly public space, offering an area in which to relax, to spend time.
With that comes the concept of "sticky streets"—an environment in which you naturally want to spend time, slow down, linger, observe. It takes back the urban environment for those on foot. And it makes business sense: the more time you spend, the more likely you are to support the local economy.
And, of course, there are times when the Square is shut off to traffic for events such as Top Dre and for markets. Believe it or not, we've managed.
The removal of cars would then create a public space worthy of the Square's fine and stylish architecture—framed by three bank buildings, the Castle Hotel, the collegiate church, the post office, the Myddelton and more besides: Castle Street and its famous Nantclwyd y Dre leading off.
Would such an environmental enhancement further Rhuthun as an historic and medieval town of note? More than anywhere, St Peter's Square gives Rhuthun its identity. Would it add to the town's individuality in the face of corporate Tesco?
In order to do this, Masterplan 2 suggests that the only way of removing the roundabout is to create a one-way system along Upper Well Street and Upper Market Street, to add to Wynnstay Road's one-way direction. After the gas renewal works created one-way working up Market Street, it's said that this concept is now more acceptable. We ask for caution here because (a) one-way traffic increases road speeds—as it did in gasworks Market Street; and (b) it comes with road sign clutter totally disproportionate to the town.
Better, then, to do two things:
Don't forget that along with increased speeds comes increased traffic noise. Any necessary calming would exacerbate that noise and it may even result in claims of increased vibration, too.
If a closure can be done for the produce market etc, can it be done permanently? Or as a suggestion, is this just a step too far?
With that comes the concept of "sticky streets"—an environment in which you naturally want to spend time, slow down, linger, observe. It takes back the urban environment for those on foot. And it makes business sense: the more time you spend, the more likely you are to support the local economy.
And, of course, there are times when the Square is shut off to traffic for events such as Top Dre and for markets. Believe it or not, we've managed.
The removal of cars would then create a public space worthy of the Square's fine and stylish architecture—framed by three bank buildings, the Castle Hotel, the collegiate church, the post office, the Myddelton and more besides: Castle Street and its famous Nantclwyd y Dre leading off.
Would such an environmental enhancement further Rhuthun as an historic and medieval town of note? More than anywhere, St Peter's Square gives Rhuthun its identity. Would it add to the town's individuality in the face of corporate Tesco?
Better, then, to do two things:
- Discourage through traffic using the town centre in the first place. Most traffic could use Station Road/Wernfechan and Park Road. Much of the traffic entering the town centre does so to avoid the three main roads of the A494 and A525 and it does not stop in town. Try tagging cars as they enter at Well Street on a Saturday afternoon or on a Sunday when Rhuthun is at its quietest, when there are fewer reasons to park in town, and see what happens.
- Create "shared space" pedestrian priority by using sets without road markings in an open way which results in motorists having no specific channels through which to navigate. This is intended to change motorists' behaviours. Motorists approach and travel through such areas with caution, bereft of any pointers or markers by which to navigate. There follows a natural slowing of road traffic. If you want evidence of this, go to Y Maes, Caernarfon; or Frodsham Street and particularly outside the railway station at Chester, where suddenly you simply have to reduce speed.
Don't forget that along with increased speeds comes increased traffic noise. Any necessary calming would exacerbate that noise and it may even result in claims of increased vibration, too.
If a closure can be done for the produce market etc, can it be done permanently? Or as a suggestion, is this just a step too far?