A public meeting will be held in Knighton on Thursday to discuss proposed cuts to the Heart of Wales Line.

A public meeting will be held this week to discuss proposed cuts to the Heart of Wales Line.

The meeting, which will be hosted by the Powys Liberal Democrats, will take place at the Community centre in Knighton from 7.30pm until 8.30pm and will be an open invite.

Members of the panel will include local Welsh Liberal Democrat politicians David Chadwick MP and Jane Dodds MS, as well as Knighton and Beguildy Councillor Corinna Kenyon-Wade.

The panel will discuss proposed plans from Transport for Wales to cut rail services across Mid Wales, while also fielding questions from concerned residents.

Back in October, the Welsh-government owned TFW put forward proposals to cut services on the Heart of Wales line from five trains a day to four, while also removing the two late evening services to Llandovery and Llandrindod Wells.

The cuts have been heavily criticised by the Powys Lib Dem group, who have described it as a “disgrace”, with party leader Jane Dodds MS calling directly on the First Minister Eluned Morgan to reverse the plans.

Commenting on the importance of having a public discussion on the proposed cuts, Mid and West Wales MS Jane Dodds said that it was “vital that we ensure that the voices of the people are being heard.

These proposed plans will have direct consequences on countless communities throughout Mid Wales, which is why having this meeting in Knighton is of the upmost importance.

The Welsh Government cannot continue to ignore the concerns of residents, they must take note and listen.”

The Welsh Lib Dem MP for Brecon and Radnorshire David Chadwick also shared his views ahead of this Thursday’s meeting, stating that “Welsh Labour Ministers cannot continue to ignore the concerns of our rural communities.

If these proposed cuts to the Heart of Wales Line were to go ahead, then there would be a catastrophic effect on our already struggling rural high street.

It also isn’t fair to place even more hurdles on residents who are already faced with a severely underfunded transportation system.

The Welsh Government must remove the wool from their eyes and start paying attention to the issues facing Mid Wales.”