RESIDENTS are fearing another blow to the high street if Ayr’s Debenhams is announced as one of the chains 50 closures.

Debenhams was placed in administration last week after ongoing financial difficulties.

The chain’s chief executive said this was ‘disappointing’ after the company earlier requested its shares be suspended with immediate effect.

It said its underlying business has access to £200m funding and that “Debenhams’ operations continue to trade as normal” as the pre-pack administration ar rangement emerged.

One shopper, Irene Gibbons from Loans, who works in Ayr said: “I often walk up to Debenhams shopping as I work in Ayr. It’s sad. It’s the social kind of thing that’s worrying.

“Shopping is a way of people getting out and socialising rather than being stuck at home. It’s what people like to do, come to shops, have a wander and see other people and all that is being slowly taken away.

“Debenhams here has a good tearoom, they have a good home bit, and you can order stuff there and pick it up so it could be a big loss. It’s just again the death of the high street and if you don’t use it you lose it.

Bernie MacDonald from Ayr said: “It’s pretty devastating. If I want to buy something I’d usually head to Debenhams. This would be my go-to shop so I’d be pretty gutted if it shut.

“It’s hard to say if somewhere like Ayr Central could survive with something this big closing. The town is just emptying all the time isn’t it.

And we’re just left with pound shops and places like that. I have a wedding coming up so I’d just pop in to have a look for that kind of thing. It’s sad to see places like that getting taken away.

“I know people like to buy online now but I personally like to go and see something and try it on or whatever.

“I have three teenage daughters who just order online and parcels are arriving all the time so it’s a generation thing as well with less people going into shops.”

Ayr town centre was packed during a week of sun in the Easter holidays, and shows the high street is still valued by many. But another closure would be another nail in Ayr’s coffin.

Debenhams’ chairman, Terry Duddy insists they are trying to protect as many stores as possible.