A Powys councillor has formally raised concerns with the council regarding the unequal distribution of services between urban and rural communities.

Conservative Cllr Iain McIntosh (Yscir with Honddu Isaf and Llanddew) has garnered support from Merthyr Cynog, Yscir, and Trallong Community Councils in highlighting the critical issues faced by rural residents in areas such as Pontfaen, Merthyr Cynog, and Upper Chapel.

The question was posed under the council’s "questions at any time" protocol and directed to leader Cllr James Gibson-Watt, finance cabinet member Cllr David Thomas, and chief executive Emma Palmer.

In his question, Cllr McIntosh addressed the 'Sustainable Powys' initiative, which aims to consolidate services into five major towns or ‘Hubs’ across the county (Welshpool, Newtown, Llandrindod, Brecon, and Ystradgynlais). While the proposal is intended to streamline services, Cllr McIntosh expressed concerns about its impact on rural communities.

"The disparity in service delivery has reached a critical point where the safety and well-being of our residents are severely compromised," he said.

He outlined several key issues, starting with road safety and maintenance.

"Our roads, including critical school bus routes, remain dangerously ungritted during winter, posing severe risks to children, bus drivers, and other road users," said Cllr McIntosh.

He also pointed out the lack of proper pothole repairs, which have worsened road conditions, resulting in long-term infrastructure issues.

Drainage and flood risk have been a serious concern as well.

"The neglect in monitoring and clearing our drains and culverts has resulted in severe flooding, exacerbated by recent storms,” explained Cllr McIntosh.

“This negligence has not only damaged roads, verges, hedgerows and property but also endangered lives, as evidenced by the significant recent landslide near Pontfaen.”

Access to essential services has also been a challenge for rural residents, particularly adult social care.

"Residents have faced denials in essential services such as adult social care due to the remote nature of their locations - this is totally unacceptable," said Cllr McIntosh.

He also raised the issue of Cradoc Primary School, stating: "The closure of our sole remaining primary school in Cradoc, despite substantial community opposition and questionable justification from your education department, has significantly disrupted the education and daily lives of our families."

Cllr McIntosh is calling for a re-evaluation of the funding model for rural areas, suggesting that council tax rates should be adjusted to reflect the level of services received.

"It seems unjust that our community contributes to council taxes that predominantly finance services in the 'Hub' areas, yet we receive minimal benefits in return," he said.

The question also includes a request for detailed financial information on the costs involved in delivering services in the three affected community council areas.

He said: "We request a detailed breakdown of the costs involved in delivering all council services within the three Community Council areas above."

"Upon reviewing these figures, we aim to assess the feasibility of locally managed service provision that could potentially offer more efficient and cost-effective services than those currently provided by Powys County Council," added Cllr McIntosh.