Cabinet Approve Way Forward For Stag Square

Cabinet has agreed to key improvements to tackle the traffic congestion around the busy Stag Square junction in Treorchy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following consideration of the feedback from the consultation process – and the national context in relation to shared space schemes – Cabinet agreed to progress with the development of a number of enhancements to help to reduce congestion at peak times around the Stag Square junction in Treorchy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, Councillor Andrew Morgan, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Delays around the Stag Square junction, especially at peak times, are unfortunately a frequent occurrence which impact upon businesses and residents in the Upper Rhondda Fawr as a whole and my Cabinet and I remain committed to making improvements. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The proposals consulted on received a mixed response with only 50% of those responding formally via the consultation process in favour of implementing the shared space model and 50% against. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The original concept of a shared space design for Stag Square was developed in line with guidance and best practise information available at the time. However, since the consultation was carried out, growing opposition to the principle of shared spaces has lead to a review of national guidance, which is currently ongoing and, when released, is expected to question some of the previously anticipated benefits of shared space schemes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This, coupled with the mixed feedback via the consultation process, led Cabinet to decide to progress a range of key enhancements instead of the original shared space scheme for Stag Square. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“These proposals include the introduction of loading restrictions in close proximity to signals during peak hours; relocation of bus stops further away from traffic signals; closure of the Chapel Street Junction and introduction of a footway across the junction to allow unrestricted and protected pedestrian movement along the east side of Stag Square and to improve the efficiency of signals at the junction allowing dynamic management of timings in response to queues. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As residents and visitors to the area will be only too aware, one of the major reasons this issue has not been successfully addressed before is because of the complexities of the Stag Square junction and space available to make changes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“While perhaps less radical than the original shared space concept consulted on, the alternative options agreed by Cabinet also seek to improve pedestrian access and safety and reduce traffic queues around the junction at peak times. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Signalling improvements, similar to those now proposed for Stag Square, have already had significant benefits for motorists in and around the centre of Pontypridd. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The recent consultation undertaken in relation to initial plans for a shared space provided valuable feedback, which has helped inform the alternative proposals. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“These alternative proposals will now be developed by officers and appropriate consultation will be undertaken on proposals relating to bus stops, vehicle loading and the potential closure of Chapel Street junction. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Improvements to this junction will also be complemented by the recent £1.25M investment in the resurfacing of 9km of the Rhigos Mountain Road and drainage improvements.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​