Local shops in Aberystwyth need support from the public and central government to allow the town centre to thrive, it has been claimed.

Three town centre shops have announced their closure in the last few weeks with Clinton Cards, Rhiannon and Eto all either having closed or set dates for their closure.

That has prompted concerns about the future of Aberystwyth town centre with an increasing number of premises currently vacant and question marks over the future of some other premises, including the Burtons and Dorothy Perkins stores on Great Darkgate Street.

Ceredigion AM Elin Jones said the future of town centres was in local independent shops.

She said: “Aberystwyth’s Great Darkgate Street has relied on multiple retailers in the past 10 years and more, and many of these are withdrawing from the high street in many towns.

“The more successful town centres now build their reputation on independent, local traders and we’ve seen the recent success of Cardigan and Treorchy.

“There needs to be a rethink around the priorities of Aberystwyth town centre to include a reduction in rents and rates to support independent retailers.”

MP Ben Lake said: “Significant reform of the business rates system is desperately needed, something I hope the Welsh Government will undertake following its review of the regime.

“More immediately, the government should look to vary the thresholds for its business rates relief schemes so as to truly target towns such as Aberystwyth."

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