Business chiefs are considering employing a digital manager in a bid to boost Lampeter town centre.

A meeting to discuss Lampeter’s future drew 70 business owners and politicians. Ceredigion MP Ben Lake was joined by a panel of guest speakers: Rob Basini, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Wales; Bronwen Raine, director of Antur Teifi; and Cardigan county councillor Clive Davies.

Mr Lake, who had called the meeting at the rugby club, said Lampeter, like many other rural towns and high streets across Wales, had faced “significant” challenges over recent years and was subject to increasing pressures.

Following a survey of FSB members, businesses and stakeholders across the country, some of the top issues identified included the threat of online retailing, empty shops, business rates and out-of-town development.

Mr Lake said the aim of the meeting was to hear creative, practical and innovative ideas, and to hear of examples of successful regeneration in other towns, such as Cardigan.

Speaking after the event, he said: “Lampeter is a town with a proud history, but also great potential. It is home to quality independent businesses and boasts several important cultural and heritage­ sites.

“It is clear the community is keen to work together to overcome the many challenges facing the town, and to harness its many attributes to realise its potential.”

One idea discussed at the meeting was to employ a digital town centre manager and to develop a town centre strategy for Lampeter.

This would be a collaborative effort, pulling in individual businesses, the Chamber of Trade, local organisations and stakeholders to create a cohesive vision and action plan for the future.  

See this week’s South Ceredigion paper for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now