“There are currently 13 businesses offering men's haircuts in 6,000 towns…”
The bid to open another barbershop in a small Welsh town raised concerns about sustainability from local traders and residents. After another planning application was submitted, I started to turn another high street store into a barber.
According to the local trade office, there are already 13 barbers or hairdressers in the town centre of Porth. All of these are within a 0.3 miles radius or a 6 minute walk.
Both businesses and locals have worried that this could overrun the town of Valley in barbershops, causing problems for businesses already on High Street. The Porth and the District Trade Office have written formal objections to the planning application, explaining that it would be “harmful” if it was to proceed and approved.
Dan Parry, vice-chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, said the companies are worried that there are not enough simple clients for this many businesses offering barber services in small towns. There are also concerns that Porth's shoppers will be fewer as it has earned a reputation from other companies as it is a barbershop town if it is granted a planning application. Get the latest Rhondda news first and sign up for our newsletter here
A recent town centre survey conducted by the Chamber of Commerce in 2024 found respondents already “looking at over-company businesses in certain businesses, such as fast food takeout, beauty parlors and barber shops. Parry said this reputation only gets worse if another barber undermines an open small business.
The new application submitted a change in use from the entertainment arcade at 64 Hannath Street to barbershop. Parry said: “Many of our members are hairdressers and barbers, and they came to us with concerns about this application. They were told they didn't have enough customers to compete with each other or another store.
“It's simply not sustainable for Porth's businesses to expand. With 13 companies currently offering men's haircuts in towns of 6,000 people, the lack of diversity that arises in town centres is also a problem, causing a loss for high street customers. For example, you're not going to go to Porth, despite the opening of independent businesses and offering new ones.”
In a letter opposed to the proposed changes to use, the Chamber of Commerce stated: “This application is harmful to the town centre of Porth and should be rejected. Approving yet another barber shop in a town already saturated with similar businesses will not bring about any concrete benefits and in fact bring about some harm.
After the Chamber of Commerce posted about the application on social media, many locals commented that there were already plenty of barbers. “They're overrunning at the barbershop,” he said, and another added: “The objection has been raised and the same thing needs to be done. This is beyond joking.”