The appearance on the pedestrian fingerposts of 'Lôn Parcwr Shops' got me wondering whether and why someone visiting Rhuthun/Ruthin might take the risk of walking to what is the industrial estate. Was it somewhat disingenuous to call the businesses on Lôn Parcwr 'shops'?
And, when you get there, do you have any inclination as to where these 'shops' are? Are they easily identifiable among the businesses and light industry?
Well, I confess I'd not walked to or through Lôn Parcwr for a while. In fact, I'd hardly been there in 18 months. A couple of visits (by car) to the garden centre; a pre-Christmas purchase at Cherry Tree Clothing (also by car); and several visits to the vets, the last of which was to put down a pet (obviously by car) was all I could recall.
Lôn Parcwr is and remains as arid and uninspiring as ever. It is, after all, an industrial estate and there's no way of putting it otherwise. It isn't designed to look attractive, in spite of the odd gem, such as the relatively new build called Llys Clwyd in the corner of the first cul de sac, Cwrt y Dderwen, between Pine & Oak Direct and The Bake House. Here, then, are the first shops. Pine Direct is a 30-year old business and, within, it looks a bit of a microcosm of the entire estate: untidy and unfinished; but the stock level's good, you can find some decent bargains and the staff are helpful. The Bake House is a high street shop tucked away elsewhere and is a true 'shop'.
The 'new' build is showing a little sign of its age but is nevertheless playful and certainly bucks the plain, faded, corrugated look of other business units. Within is Lavinia Stamps. It seems to be rather specialised. Does anyone patronise it? It's the sort of place that would look best on the Square.
Across the road you find Lifestyle from the Garment Spa. I went in once and found that the display space was compromised, owing to the design of the building. I was shocked to note that it now opens twice a week only, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Is business that poor? Or is there another reason? Perhaps because of the health emergency?
Or, more probably, because Lôn Parcwr just doesn't do it as a shopping area.