Council still in talks over bus station
MERTHYR Tydfil Council is still in talks with the Welsh Government over funding for the town’s new bus station, four years after the move was announced.
Councillors approved plans in 2014 to move the town’s bus station to Swan Street from its current site just off Castle Street and planning permission has been granted.
The new station is set to be located on the site of the former police station and Hollies Health Centre and could allow for retail development of the current site.
But four years on, discussions are ongoing over funding for the scheme, as the council looks to create an integrated transport network in Merthyr Tydfil, with the new station set to be closer to the town’s railway station.
There is a business plan in place and the council said it hopes to make some more progress this year.
A report from 2014 which looked at options for the new site said the advantages of moving the bus station to Swan Street are that it would minimise disruption, as no temporary facility would be needed; it is closer to the railway station; and it would create the chance for more retail development on the exisiting site.
The report goes on to say that the current bus station site does not provide a suitable environment to attract potential bus users and is a poor gateway for visitors coming into the town centre, with high levels of anti-social behavior and crime.
It says there was a high level of concern about the state of the current bus station.
At the time, 54% (376) of people who responded to the consultation were in favour of moving the bus station to Swan Street, with 42% (293) people in favour of keeping it where it is.
A Merthyr Tydfil Council spokesperson said: “We have full planning permission for the bus station following extensive consultation.
“A costed business plan for delivering the new facility is in place.
“We’re currently in discussion with Welsh Government regarding a funding application and we hope to have some progress this calendar year.”
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We are having conversations with Merthyr Tydfil County Council, as we do with local authorities across Wales, to explore how we make best use of all interchanges and stations in our public transport transformation.”