Plans to help Carmarthenshire's three main town centres diversify and recover from Covid have been approved.
County council officers have been liaising with groups in Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford to better understand the impact of the pandemic and how best to intervene.
Doing nothing, said a report before cabinet on January 17, would delay the recovery for each town.
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Cabinet members said they felt the masterplans were practical and looked good.
Cllr Glynog Davies said he and his colleagues were determined to do their best.
"We are stating clearly our intentions in showing our support," he said.
Towns and cities everywhere have been losing bricks and mortar retail, but the decline since March, 2020, has been exacerbated by Covid.
It's not easy to forecast how our altered spending and work patterns will evolve, but the report said there were opportunities to make physical and other changes.
The masterplan for Ammanford town centre has objectives including broadening its appeal for families and younger people, linking up its "disjointed" areas, supporting independent retailers, and encouraging the growth of the Friday market.
It said existing plans to redevelop the town centre primary school and expand leisure facilities should be done in a way to drive footfall.
More then ever, it said, town centres must become more stimulating and exciting during the day and night.
It added: "Ammanford has a strong track record of local events that enliven the town and generate a lot of local support."
The Carmarthen masterplan has objectives such as boosting the "under-performing" evening economy, creating a year-round tourism offer - potentially including a new hotel - and strengthening its appeal as a retail, leisure, hospitality and cultural destination.
It also supports more independent businesses and the expansion of the outdoor market.
Better pedestrian and cycling links are identified, along with better quality outdoor spaces, especially Jacksons Lane.
The masterplan said the loss of the Debenhams store at St Catherine's Walk Shopping Centre was significant, and that the town's commercial core had to be safeguarded. In February last year, a number of local traders spoke about how the disruption to trading in 2020 affected them, and before Christmas others spoke about their hopes for the future of the local high street.
"There are a number of large vacant units which offer opportunities for new uses, including potential facilities for public sector partners to drive activity and footfall but also supporting a broadening of uses," it said.
At the time the masterplans were written, retail vacancy rates were 17% in Carmarthen and 18% in Ammanford and Llanelli.
Key objectives for Llanelli town centre include strengthening an appeal which was distinctive from nearby out-of-town retail parks, and diversifying its offer both during the day and night.
The town centre, it said, would be better off smaller but fully occupied. Buildings should be clean, and streets tidy.
New start-ups should be supported, and better walking and cycling links created including to nearby coastal attractions.
There are existing regeneration projects underway in the town, and it has a active business improvement group in Ymlaen Llanelli.
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The masterplan said: "The town must avoid a ‘hollowing out’ around Stepney Street, Vaughan Street and the St Elli Centre and establish a vibrant and fully-occupied central core.
"It needs to create opportunities to bring new economic activity and employment back to the centre and grow the role of leisure, learning, local services including health and cultural activities."
The plans for each town will now be taken forward by Ammanford Task Force, the Carmarthen Town Centre Forum and Llanelli Task Force, with the county council providing funding and seeking additional support from central Government.
Cllr David Jenkins said that in his view the Ammanford Task Force was "just a talking shop" before the current Plaid Cymru-led administration came to power.
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