A proposal to establish a new barbershop in the small Welsh town of Porth has sparked significant concerns from local business owners and residents, highlighting issues of sustainability within the town's retail landscape. The recent planning application seeks to convert an amusement arcade located at 64 Hannah Street into yet another barbershop, adding to an already sizeable number of such establishments in the area.
According to information from the local chamber of trade, Porth's town centre is home to 13 existing barbers or hairdressers, all situated within approximately a 0.3-mile radius, translating to about a six-minute walk. This clustering of barber services has prompted apprehensions that the town may become "overrun" with such businesses, threatening the viability of those already established.
Dan Parry, vice chair of the Porth and District Chamber of Trade, expressed serious reservations about the proposal. He stated that the sheer number of barbers and hair salons in connection with the town’s population of approximately 6,000 raises sustainability issues. He pointed out that many local businesses have reported a lack of clientele, leading to competition that could be detrimental to their survival. "A lot of our members are hairdressers and barbers, and they have come to us with their concerns about this application. We’ve been told that there’s not enough clientele for them to compete with each other," Parry indicated.
In a recent 2024 survey conducted by the chamber, participants identified an oversaturation of certain businesses in Porth, including fast-food outlets and beauty parlours, in addition to barbershops. Parry warned that granting permission for the new barbershop would negatively impact not just existing barbers, but also newer independent businesses that have begun to emerge in the town, potentially eroding Porth's economic diversity.
The formal objection lodged by the chamber elaborated on these concerns, asserting that the introduction of another barbershop would offer no distinct advantages to the community while leading to several detrimental outcomes. The letter stated: "Approving yet another barbershop in a town already saturated with similar businesses would offer no tangible benefits and would indeed pose several harms: it would strain existing barbers/hair salons, erode the diversity of the high street, contradict the Council’s own development plans, and go against clear public sentiment."
In response to the planning application, local social media activity reflected a consensus that the town has sufficient barbershops already. Comments from residents included statements such as, "They are overrun with barbershops," along with calls for more community objections to the proposal, indicating growing unease about the direction of retail development in Porth.
As the planning process unfolds, the future of this proposed barbershop remains uncertain, leaving local businesses and residents anxiously awaiting the outcome.
Source: Noah Wire Services