COUNCIL chiefs have refused to explain why they failed to warn Mid Wales Travel that the park and ride service is set to be scrapped.

But they defended the decision, claiming that there are alternative bus services which passengers could use and that there will be an increase of parking spaces near the town centre when the Mill Street development is completed.

A spokesperson said: “The council is looking at all ways to rationalise services to reduce costs in order to manage within reducing resources.

“The park and ride contract ends in August and it is unlikely that the council would retender for a renewed park and ride service bearing in mind the route itself duplicates other bus services that link both to the town centre and directly to the hospital; at the end of the summer, the new Mill Street development will be completed and there will be 500 parking spaces available which will have an effect on the use of the current site.

“It is intended to widely publicise any potential changes well in advance of the end of the current transport contract, highlighting the alternative services that are available from the site both to the town centre and to the hospital.

“The matter will be presented to Cabinet shortly with the recommendation that the current transport arrangement associated with the current park and ride cease, to be replaced by regular bus services that already effectively operate on the same route. This will enable the council to save approximately £69,000 annually.”