Council set to look at metro depot plans
PLANS to build a £100m depot in Rhondda Cynon Taf for the South Wales Metro are set to go before council planners.
A hybrid application to create a Taffs Well depot to house rolling stock for the metro system at the Garth Works Industrial Estate will be considered by RCT’s planning committee on Thursday.
The Welsh Government owned site lies immediately to the west of the A470, just north of the Radyr/ Morganstown/Taffs Well/Tongwynlais junction.
Economy secretary Ken Skates AM announced the investment in the Transport for Wales site earlier this month.
The plan would involve the demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment of the eastern part of the site into the Taffs Well Depot for the South Wales Metro, with stabling and maintenance facilities for rolling stock, associated workshop and offices, car parking, and an electrical substation.
It would also involve the extension of one platform and a new railway station footbridge at the existing Taffs Well station and reconfiguration of the station’s access and parking areas.
Also part of the plan is the construction of new rail links to connect the Taffs Well Depot with the Cardiff to Merthyr railway line and the construction of an access road between the site and Cardiff Road (A4054).
The planning report says that the site is partially vacant and of a tired and run-down appearance and that this scheme will be a “positive boost to the regeneration of Rhondda Cynon Taf which will also have a significant impact on growth in the Cardiff Capital Region.”
It says it will “lead to new employment opportunities in the area and also improve access to employment for commuters in the region.”
But there have been objections to the plan with nine letters being sent to the council. The reasons include:
Sparse information for the public during pre-consultation Potential noise disturbance Potential for trains to run during the night causing greater disturbance
The facilities could be incorporated at the existing Canton, Cardiff depot without the need to impact upon Taffs Well
That the council should consider the impact on people’s lives, not just the creation of jobs
The increase in traffic and pollution Inadequate parking Falling property value The South Wales Metro system is being delivered by Keolis Amey who won the rights to be the next operators of the Wales and Borders rail franchise.