Locals left fuming as small city might even see 14th barbershop opening | UK | News | EUROtoday

Plans for an additional barbershop in a Welsh city with 13 already open have sparked issues amongst locals. A planning software to open a 14th institution in a store in Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf, has raised fears the city centre might be overrun by barbershops.

Porth’s chamber of commerce says the prevailing 13 barbers or hairdresser’s within the city centre are all inside about 500 yards of one another. The Porth and District Chamber of Trade has submitted a proper objection to the planning software, explaining it might be “detrimental” if it had been to get a thumbs up from planners, in keeping with Wales Online. The similar publication reviews the Chamber’s Vice-Chairman, Dan Parry, as saying companies are apprehensive there is not sufficient customized for therefore many companies providing barber companies in such a small city.

Some companies are additionally involved if the planning software is granted, there might be fewer buyers as a result of the city would achieve a repute for being oversaturated with barbershops.

A survey carried out by the Chamber final yr discovered locals thought there have been already too many fast-food takeaways, magnificence parlours and barbershops.

Mr Parry mentioned that repute would solely worsen if one other barbershop opened, undermining new small companies in addition to these which have traded within the city for years.

He mentioned: “A lot of our members are hairdressers and barbers and they have come to us with their concerns about this application.

“We’ve been informed there’s not sufficient clientele for them to compete with one another and one other store, particularly since you would possibly solely see one store, however there are a number of barbers or hairdressers in them.

“It’s simply not sustainable for the businesses in Porth to expand because there are now 13 businesses offering men’s haircuts in a town of 6,000 people.”

In a letter opposing the proposed change of use, the Chamber mentioned: “This application is detrimental to Porth town centre and should be refused.”

It added that approving one more barbershop in a city already “saturated” with related companies would supply no tangible advantages and pose a variety of harms.

These had been that it might pressure present barbershops and hair salons, erode the range of the excessive avenue, contradict the native council’s personal growth plans and go towards “clear” public sentiment.

Locals informed WalesOnline that Porth is overrun with barbershops and the state of affairs is “getting beyond a joke”.

The variety of barbershops on Britain’s excessive streets has risen lately, as buyers shift to purchasing on-line. Banks and constructing societies have additionally closed branches, with extra Brits banking on the web.

An increase in male grooming has additionally fuelled demand for barbershops.