There's no doubt an argument to suggest that if someone has an election pledge to support local businesses then they should at the least get their promotional leaflets printed locally. There are plenty of people who point out that doing otherwise might be considered hypocrisy. That notion's been doing the rounds on Facebook. Yet, of those who wish to point this out, I just wonder whether they support their town or whether they are part of the larger cohort of people who shop elsewhere.
Fact is that whereas nearly 40 per cent of us do our convenience (grocery) shopping in Rhuthun/Ruthin, we can only assume that our higher-than-average incomes drive us to Chester, Wrexham, Mold, Broughton or Cheshire Oaks for comparison goods (clothing, furniture, white goods, etc.). Ruthin, apparently, only meets just four per cent of comparison demand itself. It seems more of us shop for comparison goods in Rhyl than Rhuthun/Ruthin, if you consider a report in June 2019's Town and Around paper.
In 2019, if you add Greyhound Park together, about 28 per cent of our comparison shopping is done in Chester. More than double our comparison shopping occurs in Yr Wyddgrug/Mold than locally. And, more of us shop for comparison goods in Rhyl than Rhuthun (source: Town and Around)
Small print: in spite of a call to support local businesses, the Conservative leaflet was printed in Southend-on-Sea, England. Yet, perhaps none of us should throw stones...
I'm equally sure that we can all rationalise our behaviour by offering arguments as to why we don't support Rhuthun. And that's fine, to a point. As a result, we shall get the town we deserve. Just look at the gaps we are now beginning to see... and those expected in the future. It's actually both sad and worrying. Historically, we've all had the opportunity to support our town but we have chosen not to. A case in point is the sharp decline in women's fashion. Now, with little choice and the cost of living crisis, we can hardly afford even sale prices at Choo Choo.
I look around at my neighbours that surround me. Of the houses I can see immediately outside, I only see one occupant in town regularly. Some, I've never seen in the town centre, ever! Yet, most of them are out in their cars each day. I am aware of only one who commutes away from town for work.