Park and ride scheme to be expanded

THE park and ride scheme in Abercynon is to be expanded thanks to a £7m investment throughout Rhondda Cynon Taff.

Funding has been granted to extend the Abercynon park and ride facilities as part of £1m given to the scheme across the borough.

From the funding, an additional 600 car-parking spaces will be created across 10 railway stations in the borough to encourage people to use public transport. New park and ride facilities will be created in Treherbert, Ynyswen, Treorchy, Llwynypia and Trehafod as well as extending existing services in Cwmbach, Abercynon and Fernhill.

The news comes after 160 free car-parking spaces were developed on former derelict land between the River Taff and Abercynon Station in 2010.

Opened by First Minister Carwyn Jones, the £3m transport programme was launched to encourage people in the area to use public transport to reduce congestion and carbon emissions.

A new bridge was also provided to link the Navigation Business Park with the station, with direct access through a new upgraded subway.

Announced in 2009, the development was hailed as a major boost for the village to attract passengers from neighbouring valley areas.

The announcement comes as part of a series of funding grants for transport in Rhondda Cynon Taff including a £3m investment in the Mountain Ash Cross Valley Link Scheme, Llanharan bypass scheme and the A4110 dualling between Coedely and Ynysmaerdy.

Subject to the approval of the full council in November, the additional investment will be funded through the release of one-off earmarked reserves.