Nearly a working week later, it’s fair to say that there’s not been an issue like this in Rhtuhun/Ruthin for many a year. No one was so bothered about the coming of Tesco. The removal of the Farmer's' Mart out of town was less controversial. Even the closure of the railway seemed less important. We're talking pavement markings and yellow lines, of course. It's a fact that this is currently the single most talked about phenomenon by far, whenever people pass the time of day in town itself or in the pub. And they say August is a slow news month.
My guess is that the debate will fade, just like the paintwork itself will. But when?
I was in Dinbych/Denbigh yesterday and they, too, have yellow kerb markings, though seemingly fewer of them. I'd never noticed them before but I deliberately went to check. No idea how long they'd been down but they're all rather faded so I guess this is what'll happen in Rhuthun, in time. Will time heal?
They say "Denbigh Dogs & Rhuthun Cats" but the two towns are united by their heritage townscapes. Yet, I recall no fuss whatsoever in Dinbych over the paintwork. Why is Rhuthun so different? Possibly because people are more active here? Possibly because our main streets are narrower—at once drawing attention to the yellow markings *and* the need for them?
In the meantime, the yellow kerb work has hit yesterday's Daily Post as a page three stunner. There's a sub-heading that read "Biggest Act of Vandalism our Town has Ever Seen". Hmmm. Not sure about that. What about:
- The destruction of The Bull to make way for Market Street? Geraint Owen's "Ruthin Pubs" refers to it as something of a shady establishment but it was pulled down over 150 years ago to link the Market Place (as then known) with the new railway station.
- Then there was the imposing building that was The Ship (on the grass at Wernfechan, where some of the kerb markings have appeared, opposite The Anchor). Owen believes this would've been granted grade 1 listed status had it survived long enough. Or maybe it went to St Fagan's.
- Wetherspoon's is managing to have an affect on the current pubs of Rhuthun. Watch out for changes in the very near future. You heard it here first.
- Wetherspoon's also ripped down its listed ceiling.
- And then there was the 1400 AD *alleged* sacking of Rhuthun, though there's now some doubt as to whether, during the siege, the whole or any of the town burnt down after all.
- Exmewe House (Barclay's Bank) may look Victorian or even Tudor but it's a thoroughly 20th century copy. It was pulled down & rebuilt rather than saved.
- Those factory wind farms that are destructive to the landscape around Rhuthun.
- The ripping up of the railway line.
Meanwhile, there are plenty of pictures doing the rounds but what about these, from the Fans of the Old Rhuthun Blog Photographer.
Taking no chances. The new Tenovus pop-up shop ensures the kerb markings are enforced by placing chairs in the road to stop loading
This driver doesn't know whether he's disabled or loading... so it seems he's hedging his bets