Shopkeepers warn major regeneration project could lead to their businesses closing

Richard Evans Local Democracy Reporter

Shopkeepers say multi-million-pound regeneration work could lead to their businesses closing due to low footfall.

Denbighshire is currently carrying out millions of pounds of regeneration work to St Peter’s Square in Ruthin, following the UK Government awarding levelling-up funds to the council.

As part of the work, Denbighshire is spending over £10m on public realm enhancements, which include refurbishing historical buildings and landmarks.

The money will see improvements to St Peter’s Square and repair work to Ruthin Clock Tower’s dials.

The regeneration work also includes an improved Cae Ddol Park and a new entrance to Ruthin Gaol.

Footfall

But shopkeepers say construction is deterring shoppers and lowering footfall.

Independent coffee shop and cocktail bar owner Lois Mead has run her business for the past two years.

But Lois claims her business, Asudres Bar and lounge on St Peter’s Square, is no longer visible to shoppers from Clwyd Street, Well Street, and Market Street as it is screened from view by fencing.

The coffee shop owner says business is down by 40% and that the council have said she is not entitled to compensation.

“The fencing went up on Friday 16 August. They are going to be working on it until November, but nobody told us until after the work started,” she said.

“They’ve put heras fencing up and blue wind-breaking netting. The fencing goes diagonally across town and completely and utterly blocks me off. You can’t see through the fencing. You can’t see around it. You can’t see my shop from any other road, apart from the road my shop is on, but you can’t even see that road exists.

“It has massively affected trade by about 40%. We should have been informed. The council said they followed all public procedures and had a consultation. But we didn’t know the work was going on for three months and that it was going to have such a detrimental effect.”

She added: “I’m at a point where I’m losing so much money that I don’t know how I will sustain the business for three months. I’m angry. I’ve complained to the council.

“My business is right at the top of town. I opened it when there was nothing else open, just me and my next-door neighbour. Since then other businesses have opened. We’ve been trying to bring vibrancy back to the square, and it’s just gone. It’s really killed things.”

Jayne Bedford runs Naturally Ethical eco-shop next door and agreed.

“I’m happy the work is being done, but it is whether us really small businesses can hang on to reap the benefits,” she said.

“It literally looks like the square has been closed. Since this started, takings are down by 40%. You can see there has been a huge drop in footfall.”

She added: “It is a really worrying time. I’ve still got bills to pay whilst this is going on.”

Patient 

But Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts runs a Post Office in the square and disagrees with the shopkeepers.

“It’s the same for my business, the post office,” he said.

“The fencing is covering the clock. It is not covering the street.

“Any improvements to our town centre will mean construction work going on, which is currently going on with the clock. It is funding we’ve received to improve the condition of the square, and obviously we’ve got to be patient whilst work goes on.

“We’ve got to take a bit of pain in order to get a better town centre in the end.”

Denbighshire County Council was contacted for a comment.