A fair question as posted this week on Facebook was,
"Does anyone know what the latest is with... levelling up... It’s been a year... and I was wondering how things were going/what had been accomplished so far"
That roundabout and a sea of grey means pedestrians cannot always cross the Square safely; and neither can the Square be put to uses other than for the car
- The town clock (as a separate project) is over-budget but is expected to start this spring.
- St Peter's Church is ready to go and there will be plans available to see early next month. The church will close in April for up to 12 months to facilitate the work.
- The county council has pushed back the consultation on St Peter's Square. It was due towards the end of 2023, then January 2024, and will now be March and or April 2024. To be fair, this is the most complicated project. The consultation is expected to include Cae Ddol.
- There was a sort-of pre-consultation event held in July 2023. It looked at all Bro Rhuthun projects. Unfortunately, it wasn't well publicised.
- Generally, construction cost inflation is at about two per cent a month. Each project has thus had to look at economies. We anticipate the Square being a bit of a compromise. In any case, it seems more of a highways scheme rather than showcasing the beauty of the Square's heritage buildings. Ironically, in looking for economies, this also adds time... which results in inflation... but this aspect needs to be right from the start. Here, what we need is patience.
Facebook commenters were generally reserved and restrained but there were a few off-the-wall views.
In spite of a vast majority position during all the background Masterplan work (which started in 2009 and was revealed in 2010) there remain those few who commented that they could not understand why the roundabout should be removed. 'I imagine chaos without it', said one.
The response was that it's 'chaos now': too much tarmac, difficulty in crossing and a poor use of space for other purposes than driving. A related issue not mentioned is that there is too much through traffic. We should welcome motorists who come in to town to park and transact business or to visit. But the levelling up Square scheme should dissuade drivers from using the Square as a rat run. Such motorists can use Park Road and Wernfechan.
'My impression was that the extra money was to help PEOPLE. Could anyone explain to me how any of the above schemes will help families struggling to survive in the present climate?'
That isn't levelling up's purpose though indirectly this remains an outcome. It was designed to 'level up' economic inequities between areas and social groups across the entire united kingdom. As such, all schemes demonstrate how they support jobs and economic growth. For example, the Square, if done properly, will reposition Rhuthun/Ruthin's visitor offer. Levelling up is supported by both the UK government and UK opposition at Westminster.
'The Church of England has a wealth in excess of £8bn. Excluding property and land'. The inference is that St Peter's can pay for its own project. This is a remarkable indictment of our education system. The Church in *Wales* has been independent of the UK State including the monarchy and the C of E for over 100 years. Welsh churches are self-supporting.
'Perhaps some of the money could be spent on fixing the Cunning Green insulations (sic) [instead] of trying to remove the roundabout!!!' So many more people cross the Square than ever walked the Cunning Green. The Cunning Green though important is used by a minority. In any case, the Lord's Garden wall is almost ready. But we fear that the castle wall may remain unsafe. Should levelling up therefore substitute for insurance payments as regards wobbly walls? Isn't that what insurance is for?