SHOE Zone is set to close its Ammanford store in the spring.

The move comes as a larger store recently opened in nearby Cross Hands.

While the shoe chain says it does not comment on store closures it did confirm it would close in March 2020.

However locals have insisted the imminent closure “will not impact the town.”

Cheryl Glover, a campaigner behind the Facebook group Let’s Make Ammanford Amazing said the town is thriving despite the latest news.

She said: “It is sad we have had this store announce its closure, but Ammanford is changing, in fact we have had 11 new stores open this year, it won’t impact the town. The identity of Ammanford is changing and so is the attitude of the shoppers. They are coming to town to browse, meet up and go for lunch and have a totally different experience.

It’s not nice to see shop closures but the bigger picture is the town is thriving.”

Local businesswoman Khadine Sutherland, who runs Breiz ice-cream parlour on High Street said it was a shame to see the shoe shop close but added that Ammanford should be given a chance to improve.

“It’s definitely getting better,” she said. “We had a successful summer and we continue to do well, despite being an ice-cream parlour open in the winter. We have witnessed more positivity about the town. The parking is still an issue but we can’t do anything about that, so we just get on with it.”