Llandrindod Wells Town Council left ‘none the wiser’ following a recent Sustainable Powys meeting.

Councillor Jamie Jones went along to a recent meeting about Powys County Council’s project and said it was ‘interesting’.

He told a town council meeting that there was a presentation by Powys Teaching Health Board and then the county council, each talking about their stresses and shortage of money.

Councillor Jones said there was then a scoping exercise, where they wanted town and community councils to ask questions about the project. He said he believes the county council was trying to find out what councils would be willing to lose and what they would put their hands into their pockets to save.

Sustainable Powys sets out the future plans for the county.

Future Powys County Council services will be centred on four towns – Newtown, Welshpool, Llandrindod Wells and Brecon - as the authority outlines a radical shake up of provision.

The only guaranteed services to market towns like Builth Wells will include bus stops/stations, primary schools, secondary schools, streetlights, waste and recycling, car parks. So the town is at risk of losing its leisure centre and library with residents having to travel to Llandrindod Wells to access council services.

The council says the strategy is being developed to ensure it can deliver stronger, fairer and greener services going forward, whilst remaining within the available budget.

The Council is currently forecasting more than a £20million gap for the 2024/25 financial year. This is expected to increase to £44million or more over the next four years.

Councillor Jones said: “We were none the wiser at the end of the meeting. It was quite disappointing that having been waiting for over a year to find out what they have come up with, they still could not tell us what it is going to cost us, and give details. I just don’t see it working.”

Deputy Mayor Councillor Paul Smith said: “I felt it was a real non-event. There was no substance, it was just for them to say they are engaging with us. I would like a much more collaborative meeting with more substance.”

Members said they would need to keep an eye on the situation in the new year.