GREATER efforts need to be made to promote Llandysul and make it a vital destination for visitors, a meeting has heard.

Plaid Cymru’s Ceredigion MP Ben Lake and AM Elin Jones held the meeting in Llandysul aimed at getting ideas from local residents about the future of the town following a series of setbacks in recent years.

The town’s bypass and parking charges are among the factors blamed for the town’s demise, the meeting heard.

The meeting, which attracted around 150 people, heard work is now needed to ensure Llandysul is a destination for visitors by focusing on the town’s identity and history, as well as taking advantage of the leisure industry and arts and creative sector.

Local councillor Keith Evans said he was pleased the meeting had been held and hoped the town would work together to make the most of Llandysul.

Llandysul will lose its last bank branch later this month with the post office moving from the high street to a supermarket in Pont Tyweli.

Concerns were raised about the impact the Llandysul bypass has had on footfall in the town, with local residents also unhappy at the impact of the introduction of parking charges in the town’s car park.

Mr Lake and Ms Jones said those issues would be best addressed by ideas from local residents.

Mr Lake said: “Reaching out and listening to people’s concerns and aspirations is one of my priorities as an MP.

“The local people are the experts in their communities and as elected representatives we should be asking them for guidance on how we can work together to achieve a better future for our villages and towns.”

See this week’s South Ceredigion or Cardigan & Newcastle Emlyn editions for the full story, in shops and online now