Rhuthun/Ruthin is the first town in Denbighshire to achieve coach friendly status. This was bestowed upon us on April 25th this year, by an organisation called the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), a long & grand name for what is basically a trade body representing buses.
Yesterday, we had a coach load of tourists come to explore. This is still a rare event and one that needs celebrating. The problem? The weather was inclement but not even the CPT could alter that. No, what happened or what didn't happen was that there was nothing for the visitors to do. Neither the Old Gaol nor Nantclwyd y Dre are open on Tuesdays and the party simply moaned. I doubt the visitors will be back and, more alarmingly, I doubt that the coach firm will either.
It appears that a lot of hard work went in to achieving coach friendly status yet to what end if we cannot offer a warm welcome. This applies to all businesses, some of whom have fairly erratic opening times. I feel sorry for the coach friendly organisers—a sub-committee of the town council. In the case of our tourist attractions, though, surely the coach operator could've checked opening times...
The second problem is this. Neither is the CPT helping. It's coach friendly website says it's under construction. You can use your favourite search engine to delve a little deeper and assuming you find the coach friendly Wales page, you will see four towns, three of which are in Conwy and the fourth is Caerdydd. Sadly, no mention of Rhuthun, yet.
It appears that a lot of hard work went in to achieving coach friendly status yet to what end if we cannot offer a warm welcome. This applies to all businesses, some of whom have fairly erratic opening times. I feel sorry for the coach friendly organisers—a sub-committee of the town council. In the case of our tourist attractions, though, surely the coach operator could've checked opening times...
