A report on how bus services could be improved in Welshpool has led one town councillor to say that elderly people of the town were being “ignored”.

After being asked to express how local bus services could be improved by Powys County Council, Welshpool Town Council prepared a report on the matter.

Cllr Richard Church relayed the findings of the council’s report at a full meeting on Wednesday, June 26, where a number of issues were raised.

He said: “The first thing is in relation to town bus service, No 88, which circulates around town.

"It’s a very important service for people who live up Gungrog Hill and those sorts of areas and is well used by the elderly. The route was changed some while ago that it didn’t serve Broad Street and we felt this was a mistake.

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“The other point is that some buses start too late in the morning and finish too early in the afternoon. If they commence earlier and run later they fit in better with those getting to the station to get to Shrewsbury and Newtown.

“We also feel that stops should be provided on Severn Street and Severn Road.

“There’s also some confusion over T12, one we’ve discussed in the past, as it doesn’t go into Coed Y Dinas and we’ve suggested that it should do. Apparently, it sometimes does but not regularly.

“We also received feedback on bus shelters, namely that people are unhappy with their quality, especially in the high street when it’s rainy and windy. We’re recommending they should be reviewed and improved.”

Cllr Phil Pritchard also felt the bus services in Welshpool were not fully serving the people who use them, particularly elderly residents who might be most reliant on them.

He added: “Powys County Council are ignoring the older people of this town by refusing to give a service they need.”

Other councillors reported that they had also received feedback on ways to improve bus services in the town, as well as personal views on how they are not up to standard.

Cllr Nick Howells said: “I use the town bus a few times and have stopped outside Poundland. I knew the driver so when I asked him why he was stopping here he said he’d been stopped from driving the town bus up Broad Street.

"He’d been refused to drive up the main street into town and drop people off closer to the town centre.

“So that’s an example of the bus routes not properly serving people in town.”

The council’s report will be submitted to Powys Council on June 28.