A £26.7m investment to transform Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre and villages across the Taff Bargoed Valley has been announced by the Welsh Assembly Government.
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council’s regeneration plans have been given the go-ahead following £21.7m of funding from the Welsh Assembly Government through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Heads of the Valleys Programme and the Targeted Match Fund (TMF).
The funding will drive forward a major redevelopment of Merthyr Tydfil’s River Taff Corridor as well as major routes and approaches to the town, improving their appearance and encouraging more people into centre.
Other parts of the town will be revived through the creation of a new public space at the Gateway to the Pontmorlais Heritage Area and improved access to the train station. A Building Enhancement Programme will be available offering funding to help businesses make improvements to their commercial properties, enhancing the character of the town.
Improvements in the Taff Bargoed Valley villages of Bedlinog, Treharris and Trelewis will complement the rich historic and mining heritage of the area, while creating economic and social opportunities for communities to improve future prospects.
Deputy Minister for Regneration Jocelyn Davies said:
“Improving the environment in which people live and work will increase the economic potential of the area – attracting investment and stimulating employment opportunities. It will also build community pride by improving the appearance of villages and providing a boost for the Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre and the Taff Bargoed Valley during challenging economic times.”
Business and Budget Minister Jane Hutt said:
“I am delighted that we have been able to maximise our EU resources to support this ambitious regeneration programme which will bring lasting benefits to people, businesses and communities in the County Borough of Merthyr Tydfil and beyond.”
The plans have been developed through local regeneration partnerships with support from the local community and businesses. Work is due to begin in 2010 and be complete by 2015.
Leader of Merthyr County Borough Council Cllr Jeff Edwards said:
“This is excellent news for the communities of the County Borough and for the Councillors and Officers who have worked so hard for so long to regenerate their communities. With this injection of funding, there will be many new developments over the next few years, which will improve the County Borough for people of all ages and ensure a brighter future for the next generation.”
The following schemes being developed and proposed are:
Merthyr Tydfil
- An enhanced highway system with a new bridge linking the town centre to the River Taff as well as a redesign of Avenue de Clichy and Castle Street
- Improvements to the River Taff Corridor with a new pedestrian focused space along Avenue De Clichy and creation of a Boulevard River Walkway which will reconnect the Town Centre to the river
- Improvements to Masonic Street to create a better link from the Café Quarter to the railway station and more parking facilities at key sites
- Improvements to the appearance of key gateways which are used by people arriving from Mid and North Wales and the Midlands
- Creation of a multi use college green as part of the proposed new Merthyr Learning Quarter which will link the College site to the riverside location, acting as a link for college students and staff towards the town centre, and for town centre users towards the college.
- Development of a major new public square (Penderyn Square) in the town centre that will create a vibrant environment with high aesthetic qualities.
- A Building Enhancement Scheme for commercial properties in Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre.
Taff Bargoed Valley
- Trelewis High Street: a new traffic management system which will better meet the needs of local residents and visitors
- Treharris Town Centre: a major programme of public realm improvements which will create a new public square and better access for pedestrians and vehicles
- Treharris Town Centre Building Enhancement Scheme: improvements to commercial buildings which will meet conservation standards and conserve the heritage of the town’s shops and buildings
- Trelewis-Treharris Gateway: Landscaping improvements and enhancement to the Glyn Bargoed Road gateway between Trelewis and Treharris
- Bedlinog Square in Cwm Felin Conservation Area: heritage led enhancements to the square which will improve the area for pedestrians and support the development of other heritage projects in the village
