RCT Labour £2M vanity project gets under way but what about the out of date Aberdare Bypass bridge
Construction work will soon begin on a new footbridge for Pontypridd Town Centre, which will create a pedestrian link from the Llys Cadwyn development into Ynysangharad War Memorial Park.
The Council has appointed Knights Brown as the contractor with responsibility for delivering the major scheme, and works will begin on site from Monday, July 8, with the structure scheduled for completion during Winter 2019/20.
Knights Brown will also host an information event at Lido Ponty on Friday, July 5 (2pm-6pm), where members of the community are invited to find out more about the project, meet the construction team and discuss any queries.
The footbridge work will occupy a small area within Ynysangharad Park, but the project is unlikely to cause much disruption to the park or the Town Centre on a day-to-day basis. Any activity likely to cause disruption will be publicised in advance – while scheduled events over the summer will be unaffected. Gas Road Car Park will remain in its current use for the duration of the project.
Welsh Government has this week announced that the Council will benefit from £800,000 grant funding towards the footbridge scheme, as part of it Targeted Regeneration Investment Programme.
The Llys Cadwyn development, scheduled for completion in early Spring 2020, comprises three state-of-the-art buildings on the strategic former Taff Vale site. The scheme has benefitted from £10m funding from Welsh Government, including £7m from the European Regional Development Fund.
South Wales Metro operator Transport for Wales will be based at Number 1 Llys Cadwyn (building nearest Gas Road Car Park) – bringing hundreds of jobs to Pontypridd. Number 2 Llys Cadwyn (centre building) will include Grade A office floorspace and one food/drink unit, while 3 Llys Cadwyn (nearest Bridge Street) will be a gateway building incorporating a 21st Century library, Council customer contact point and a state-of-the-art leisure/fitness centre.
Councillor Robert Bevan, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Housing, said: “I’m pleased to announce construction of the new footbridge between Llys Cadwyn and Ynysangharad War Memorial Park will soon begin – to provide an important pedestrian link between the new development and the public space. It comes as Llys Cadwyn continues to transform in front of our eyes, as excellent progress is made.
“Ynysangharad Park is a much-loved landmark in Pontypridd, just a stone’s throw from the Town Centre and home to a number of attractions including the National Lido of Wales, Lido Ponty. Increasing accessibility between the Retail Area and the park will become even more important when hundreds of jobs are brought to Pontypridd by Llys Cadwyn – upon its completion next year. The new bridge will become an important gateway for residents and visitors.
“Earlier this week, it was announced that the Council has received £800,000 Welsh Government funding for the footbridge – and the Council is grateful for the Welsh Government’s support in delivering the wider Llys Cadwyn project.
"The Council’s contractor for the footbridge is hosting a community information event at Lido Ponty on Friday (July 5), and I’d urge interested residents to drop-in between 2pm and 6pm to meet the construction team, and ask any questions. The Council will work with its contractor Knights Brown to deliver this scheme as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
