The town centre has been dealt another blow as it was revealed that Topshop and Topman will be closing.

The Parade store – which employs 13 people – will close on March 28.

Owner the Arcadia Group says it has tried to relocate the branches.

The Sir Phillip Green-owned retail group has already closed a number of Topshop stores this year.

It shut five other stores in Swindon – Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge, Burton, Wallis and Evans – in 2019.

A spokesman for the Arcadia Group said: “The Topshop/Topman Swindon store will cease trading on March 28 and we have endeavoured to offer current staff other employment options within the Arcadia Group.

“Our customers can still visit the nearby Outfit Swindon, Oxford branches or shop online.”

Councillor Dale Heenan highlighted online shopping as one of the major reasons for this latest loss.

The cabinet member for the town centre said: “The Oxford Street store in London just had to take a mortgage out to stay afloat, so this news is no surprise.

“Online shopping has seen a massive change on the high street and we urgently need the government to launch a review to make online store and physical store on a level playing field.

“If not more national names will disappear.”

Coun Heenan pointed out that Swindon Borough Council can’t control what the rent of the building is as well as business rates.

He added: “The council doesn’t own these buildings. It doesn’t set the rent or business rates.

“Landlords are cutting rents but it’s their business decision.”

Despite the latest closure, the councillor added that there was still hope for the future.

He added: “New shops are opening in the town.

“Topshop might be closing but we have the independent vintage shop opening up in Old Town.

“We are well placed with the shops we have in Old Town and the Outlet.”

On Facebook, many Adver readers spoke of their frustration over the decline of the town centre.

Francesca-Louise Rowlands said: “This isn’t really surprising it it. Swindon town centre has not been an attractive place to shop for a long time.

“When businesses need to downsize, Swindon is generally the first on the hit list.

“Regent Circus was built to entice people and look at the state of that now. The only place people really want to go now is the Outlet.

“A shame but unless something really drastic is done, people will continue to travel further to places like Bath and Bristol or shop online.”

This year has already seen the opening of the previously-mentioned vintage clothing store, Kapada, in Old Town.

And Smyths Toys and Home Bargains plan to open stores in Swindon this year.