New plans for station unveiled
A PUBLIC exhibition is being held to inform residents and businesses about proposals to expand the park-and-ride scheme at Abercynon railway station to provide more than 300 new spaces.
A PUBLIC exhibition is being held to inform residents and businesses about proposals to expand the park-and-ride scheme at Abercynon railway station to provide more than 300 new parking spaces.
A new parking facility will be built at Navigation Park, on the former Abercynon Colliery site, a short walk from Abercynon railway station. It will include 310 new spaces including seven disabled bays and 15 motorcycle spaces – while a bus stop will be added to the existing car park next to the train station, to encourage integration between bus and rail services.
Having developed proposals for the £1.2m scheme, the council will host a public exhibition on Thursday, August 16, at Abercynon community centre – from 11am until 7pm.
All residents are welcome to attend the event, as plans for the scheme will be presented and council officers will be on hand to answer any questions from interested members of the community. The council has secured £787,000 from the Welsh Government’s Local Transport Fund towards this scheme, which was announced in April.
The first phase of the Abercynon park-and-ride scheme in 2010 provided more than 150 parking spaces built on then-derelict land east of the train station.
It was linked to Navigation Park with a bridge over the river.
In October 2017 the council installed an additional 11 spaces in a £24,000 investment.
Works on the major second phase could start by the end of the year – following the appointment of a contractor. Minimal traffic management will be required as works will take place on land off the highway.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf council and cabinet member with responsibility for highways, said: “The council has welcomed a Welsh Government contribution towards phase two of the Abercynon park-and-ride scheme.
“It will provide an extra 310 parking spaces at Navigation Park, as we encourage more people to use public transport as part of their daily routines.
“The new facility will complement the existing park and ride which was delivered in 2010. Parking at Abercynon railway station is very popular, and there is significant demand for additional spaces, with the current provision being over-capacity on most days.
“It will also complement the huge investment in the Valleys’ train services which will be delivered through the south Wales Metro and Cardiff Capital Region City Deal in the coming years with the planned eight trains per hour through Abercynon station.
“In October 2017, cabinet agreed to review plans for 10 new park-and-ride schemes across Rhondda Cynon Taf, creating more than 600 new parking spaces in total.
“Abercynon phase two was outlined as an important project in this wider investment, and I am delighted that good progress has been made on the proposals – which could see works start by the end of 2018.
“I would encourage members of the Abercynon community – as well as any other interested residents – to attend the public engagement event on August 16, in order to find out more about this important project.”