Local Companies Make Progress On Port Talbot’s New Integrated Transport Hub

Council Leader, Ali Thomas OBE was pleased to see work underway at the new integrated Transport Hub at Port Talbot Parkway station this week, led by award winning Port Talbot based contractor, Andrew Scott Ltd. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council Leader was joined by Neath Port Talbot Council’s Head of Engineering and Transport, Dave Griffiths, Welsh Government’s Regeneration Manager, Gillian McGregor and Andrew Scott’s Managing Director, Mark Bowen, to unveil a daffodil imprinted wall. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Welsh themed feature wall has been created using Tessellform Ltd. formwork moulds prepared by local company, HOS Hire Ltd in Neath, adding a unique floral design to the wall that divides the hub from Port Talbot Parkway Railway Station. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The £5.6m Transport Hub project links up with the £11.3m redevelopment of Parkway train station by Network Rail, providing easier access to employment and residential areas in and around the town and valleys areas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The works will comprise the re-alignment of the A48 Heilbronn Way and main Talbot Road through Port Talbot, and road junctions with Station Road, Grove Place and Oakwood Lane. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This will create a large area to facilitate a bus terminal, taxi rank and drop-off and pick-up bays, providing a safe and attractive pedestrian-dominated concourse. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The project is identified in the joint Regional Transport Plan and Swansea Bay City Region Strategy, and endorsed by City Region Board as a priority. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It forms part of the Council’s Vibrant and Viable Places Regeneration Programme, funded by the Welsh Government, and supported by the Local Transport Fund and European Structural Funds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Programme has already successfully delivered a new housing development and riverside walk at Green Park and a new Community Employability Centre on Water Street, as part of a comprehensive Regeneration scheme for the town. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Ali Thomas OBE, Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council said: “The new integrated hub, paired with the recently completed Parkway Station is an important Transport development at the heart of Port Talbot’s regeneration plans. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It will not only provide a safe pedestrian access between the main rail line and local bus services, but will also link the town centre to key employment sites such as Harbourside, whilst forming an attractive gateway to Port Talbot and the wider City Region.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mark Bowen, Managing Director, Andrew Scott said: “As a local company, we are delighted to be working with Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council on a project that will provide immediate benefits to the area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We’ll be looking to create supply chain opportunities for other local businesses, generating employment and training opportunities for local people, and most importantly we’re proud to retain and deploy staff based in Port Talbot and surrounding areas onto this project.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Maxine Barrett, Director of HOS Hire said: “As a local company, we are pleased to be involved in such a significant project that forms part of the ongoing transformation of Port Talbot town centre. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We work on many projects across the UK and it has been a pleasure to add a Welsh touch to a project so close to home”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​