Porth Park And Ride Update

As work progresses with Phase 1 of the Porth Park and Ride scheme, the Council can confirm additional funding of over £0.6m has been allocated to support the Metro. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new facility in Porth will provide 73 spaces and will also include plans for new street lighting, signage, disabled access, cycle parking, new access to the station and the potential to ease parking demand in the surrounding residential streets. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The aim of this scheme is to attract car users from the wide surrounding catchment and enable them to use the train for the main part of their journey to their final destination, particularly avoiding the congested routes, such as the A4054 into Pontypridd and the A470 into Cardiff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It will also make better use of the area’s transport infrastructure, encouraging more people to use public transport, and deliver more sustainable access to jobs and services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Construction works began during October 2015, with completion of Phase 1 expected by July 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is crucially important to the local economy that residents in Rhondda Cynon Taf and visitors to the area can get to and from work, visit tourist attractions and carry out day to day travel as easily as possible. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The development of the Porth Park and Ride aims to help with this and will also help to reduce congestion on the roads by virtue of it being made easier to travel by train to Pontypridd and beyond. Subject to Cabinet approval the Council will invest extra funding to bring forward phases 2 and 3 of Porth park and Ride to increase the number of spaces available to encourage sustainable travel. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The Porth Park and Ride is an example of the type of scheme which we can now progress with thanks to the recently agreed City Deal and £5m Council investment allocated for transport infrastructure as part of the wider £23m investment in priority areas.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As with all construction works, there is likely to be some disruption to the properties in the immediate area, residents are assured that all measures are being taken to keep this to an absolute minimum and the appointed contractors for the project, Alun Griffiths (contractors) Ltd will be working closely with residents to ensure they are informed at all stages of the works. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​