At first glance the presence of Poundstretcher, Home Bargains, Card Factory, Wilko and Greggs can make Ammanford feel like other towns. But there is more than meets the eye.
Yes, there are empty retail units, a lot of charity shops and enough hair salons and barber shops to service a small city, but independent shops seem to be holding firm and the hospitality sector would thrive even more if enough staff could be found.
In March, Carmarthenshire Council's cabinet approved a masterplan for Ammanford which aims to give the county's third largest town a better chance of post-Covid recovery. What looks good on paper may not necessarily translate completely into success on the ground but the plan was prepared with input from businesses and other interested parties.
