Saturday December 3rd was the first of three Saturdays where car parks were free of charge. Yet, it was inevitable after
Saturday November 25th's hugely busy day that December 3rd was quiet in Rhuthun/Ruthin. The same happened last year.
Quite a few people have already complained that there was no free parking on Saturday November 25th. Isn't it much more sensible to reserve free parking when demand is lower in the hope that the offer stimulates people coming into town? Offering free parking on November 25th when there's huge pressure on existing car parks only discourages the churn of cars and encourages space blocking. In any case, there was free parking at county hall on Saturday November 25th (though this wasn't signed).
To me, the policy of three free Saturdays in December seems sound.
Meanwhile, the crowd at the Christmas tree lights switch on was the best it's ever been as a stand-alone event. (The usually accompanying convoy of lights is on Saturday December 10th, this year.) The number attending was thanks to one school and one pantomime society.
Regrettably, the same could not be said for the stalls in Castell Rhuthun Ruthin Castle on November 25th. It was poorly attended and not just by stallholders. A significant number of expected traders had simply not turned up. Compare this to the numbers crossing the threshold of the market hall on Saturday November 25th: it was reported to us as about 5,000.
