Despite a great deal of local opposition the town lost its rail service in 1969 , as part of the controversial Beeching Axe and is now said to be the farthest large town from a railway station in the United Kingdom .
Despite a great deal of local opposition , the town lost its rail service in 1969 , as part of the controversial Beeching Axe . 
 It is now said to be the farthest large town from a railway station in the United Kingdom .