A community council says its village is being discriminated against after a new bus timetable revealed that the community would no longer be serviced in the afternoon.

Castle Caereinion Community Councillors claim that no other villages have been affected by the timetable changes to the number 87 bus service to Welshpool, operated by Owen’s Travelmaster.

Councillors say the decision was made by Powys County Council to streamline the service to link with the Wrexham bus service in Welshpool.

The new timetable shows that within the 2.10pm Foel to Welshpool route, it will make stops at the same villages and towns, except for Castle Caereinion Maesgarmon.

During the Autumn, Cllr Clive Jones was in talks with Powys County Council and the bus operator following a complaint about the timetable changes. He said the bus service is important to residents living in a rural area who do not have their own transport.

The 87 bus' afternoon serveice no longer stops at Castle Caereinion's Maesgarmon (Image: Google Street View)

Councillors wanted to negotiate with Powys County Council to arrange a service that leaves 10 minutes earlier so that Castle Caereinion residents can continue accessing an afternoon bus service to Welshpool. Following discussions with Powys County Council Passenger Transport Officer Rosie Stephens, they say they are dissatisfied by her response which gave several reasons why the bus service could not be reinstated.

The community council have agreed to write a letter to Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies, Assembly Member Russell George, and Powys County Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Public Transport Cllr Aled Davies to express their ‘dissatisfaction’ at the county council’s response and to raise concerns about discrimination against the village as no other villages have been affected.

Chair of Castle Caereinion Community Council Nigel Bowen said it is a “disgrace” that the village has lost its only afternoon bus service. He added that the community and councillors were “disgusted” by the changes especially when rural areas were losing local amenities.