A major park and ride scheme in Abercynon will be completed £1million within budget and six months ahead of schedule.
The £3million transport programme funded by Welsh Assembly Government and the European Regional Development Fund and delivered by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council will be officially opened on Tuesday December 14th 2010.
First Minister for Wales Carwyn Jones AM and Deputy First Minister for Wales Ieuan Wyn Jones, who is also Minister for the Economy and Transport will join Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Leader Cllr Russell Roberts, Cabinet Member for Transport, Customer Care and Emergency Planning Cllr Andrew Morgan and guests for the launch at 11am.
The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the European Union’s Convergence Programme administered by the Welsh Assembly Government. The remainder of the funding is provided by the Welsh Assembly Government through the Rail Forward Programme.
First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “It’s great news that this project has been finished ahead of schedule and under budget. With a capacity for 160 cars and free parking, it should encourage people in the local area to use public transport which in turn will benefit the environment and ease pressure on other forms of transport.”
Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones said, “I am delighted for the people of Abercynon and the Cynon Valley that we are able to officially open this fantastic facility, which will not only help reduce road congestion and carbon emissions but also goes some way to continue the economic regeneration of this area. The people of this area deserve nothing less and we’re proud that even in this tough financial climate that we are continuing to invest in these valley communities. ”
Construction Work on the project began in February 2010 and the park and ride facility was anticipated to be open to the public by the summer of 2011. But due to the tireless efforts of the project team, the scheme will be open 27 weeks earlier than expected. Originally the cost of the scheme was projected as £4million, but due to a combination of positive partnership working, excellent community relations, value engineering and good weather, a saving of £1million was made.
Designed by Capita Glamorgan Consultancy and supported by Arriva Trains Wales and Network Rail, the ‘Park and Ride’ facility is located on former scrub-land situated between the River Taff and Abercynon Station.
A river bridge has been constructed linking Navigation Business Park to the ‘Park and Ride’ car park.
This scheme provides a modern and safe parking facility for direct access via a new subway link to Abercynon Railway Station. This was completely rebuilt and modernised in 2008 under another Assembly Government WEFO funding package worth over £20 million. The new station and track and signalling improvements enabled the introduction of half-hourly trains to Merthyr in 2009. These improvements and the new park and ride will ease traffic congestion and encourage the use of public transport.
These improvements form part of the Sewta (South East Wales Transport Alliance) initiative to promote and deliver improved public transport across the region. Sewta is a regional consortium of the 10 south-east Wales local authorities that work together with partner organisations to deliver improved transport facilities.
The completed project holds around 160 cars (including 11 disabled spaces), is fully lit and equipped with CCTV coverage to support a safe and secure parking facility. A new bridge with paved footways either side links to Navigation Business Park; and direct access through a new upgraded subway is provided to Abercynon Station.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Customer Care and Emergency Planning and Vice Chairman of the South East Wales Transport Alliance Cllr Andrew Morgan said: “The Abercynon Park and Ride Scheme is a hugely significant milestone for us at Rhondda Cynon Taf and we are proud to deliver it within budget and several months ahead of schedule thanks to excellent partnership working will all concerned.
“It is one of the largest projects currently being undertaken by the Council’s Strategic Projects Unit and we are proud to deliver a scheme that will be of enormous benefit to many thousands of train users every week.”
The Abercynon Park and Ride Scheme – which has free parking – is open to the public from Monday December 13th 2010.
