Town Centre Investment Update

Improvement works in Aberdare town centre are due to get underway on 4 April, as work begins to deliver the £300k investment in town centres, announced as part of the wider investment of £23m in priority areas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Robert Bevan, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Planning, said: “The Council has invested significantly in a number of our town centres in recent years and this additional investment of £300k will support further improvements in our town and village centres. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We recognise the importance of our town centres and this investment is just one way in which we are seeking to support them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We work closely with traders and other partners in our town centres and, through this approach, we have been able to support the development of the Business Improvement District in Pontypridd as well as other successful joint approaches such as town centre app development for which the Council secured external funding for Porth and Aberdare. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As well as a varied town centre events programme, developed in partnership with town centre businesses, we have also introduced initiatives like free town centre parking during “Support Your High Street Week” and during December to encourage visitors to our town centres. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Free access to Lido Ponty is expected to bring thousands of people to Pontypridd and, based on feedback from businesses in the area, the opening of the Lido certainly had a positive impact last year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have also managed to secure the Tour of Britain, with Stage 5 starting in Aberdare on 8 September, which will provide a boost to businesses in Aberdare. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have a lot to be proud of in our town and village centres which offer a diverse range of high street names, unique shops, cafes, bars and restaurants and this investment will further support them.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Town and Village Centres set to benefit from investment include: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Aberdare
• Tonypandy
• Mountain Ash
• Pontypridd
• Abercynon
• Llanharry

Works will include the renewal of street furniture such as bins and benches; re-painting of bollards railings etc; the installation or renewal of notice boards and footway and highway repairs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In Tonypandy, works will also include the renewal of bus shelters in the town’s bus station. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​