No More Cars

It was really a bit of an open secret for those in the know. Now, it’s gone very public. Slater’s of Rhuthun, the Citroën (and sort-of Vauxhall) car dealer is about to shut.

In a disappointing quote in the Vale Advertiser, the regional car giant's managing director said, ‘I am slightly concerned about our customer base in Ruthin…’ Only *slightly*? How much of a public relations disaster is that?

You might think that the closure isn’t too much of a blow for Rhuthun—unless you drive a Citroën or Vauxhall car, that is. Actually, the Slater’s decision runs deeper than that.

It leaves Rhuthun without a car sales outlet at all. And, no matter how green we’d like to be, Rhuthun these days is a dormitory and commuter town that needs cars to function. Closing Slater’s is rather isolating for the town plus hinterland of more than 12,000 souls. The Slater’s decision is therefore a blow for those who choose a local garage, whether to support local business or for the convenience of a facility that’s near at hand, should matters go wrong. And let’s face it, cars do go wrong.

These days, trends in car retailing are twofold. Either there are well-equipped, larger & centralised franchise premises; or there are car supermarkets. Slater’s in Rhuthun cannot hope to compete with the huge stocks (and consequently reduced prices) of nearly-new supermarket cars. Neither, it seems, can it sustain a franchise dealership. That’s not because of the volume of sales—we understand that that Rhuthun meets its targets. The managing director states that ‘new technology and on-going investment in Citroën in Abergele’ is to blame for Slater’s decision. In reality, this derives from car manufacturers’ insistence on high levels of investment, investment perhaps better made in Slater’s Abergele Citroën premises, in a larger town accessible from the A55. Yet, the showroom and facilities in Abergele are only slightly less cramped than Rhuthun’s.

There are no doubt a number of reasons behind Slater’s decision to sell. One must surely be the commercial worth of a freehold site, a site that will no doubt probably terminate in housing, possibly in flats.

Meanwhile, residents who prefer a local service will now need to go to the last remaining car dealer in the area, Pentre Motors, six miles north. The nearest other main dealer is 11 miles away in Yr Wyddgrug/Mold, limited to Vauxhall only. After that, for a range of marques, it’s Abergele (19 miles), Wrexham (21) or Chester (24).