An overnight road closure for southbound traffic is required at Sardis Road in Pontypridd over three nights next week (July 15-17). This will enable highway work as part of the bingo hall site redevelopment, which is nearing completion.
Since February 2024, work has been ongoing to redevelop the former bingo hall and Angharad’s Nightclub site into a vibrant public realm, with new bus bays also being installed to serve the southern end of Pontypridd town centre. Temporary traffic arrangements have been used on the southbound section of Sardis Road, adjacent to the site, to ensure the work has progressed safely.
This latest update confirms both elements of the scheme, the public realm space and new bus bays, are on course to open during early August 2024 – ahead of the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Pontypridd.
Pontypridd residents and visitors are advised of the traffic arrangements that will be used over the weeks ahead, to facilitate final works within the project:
- Friday, July 12 – removal of the current traffic management and existing lane closures on Sardis Road (including reinstatement of the right turn to Graig). This will be completed by the end of the day.
- Monday, July 15, to Wednesday, July 17, (overnight works, 9.30pm to 6am) – a southbound closure is needed at Sardis Road for highway work (surfacing, white lining and pedestrian crossing infrastructure). A road closure will run from Sardis Road Gyratory to the bingo hall site, with traffic diverted via Catherine Street, Bridge Street roundabout and Sainsbury’s roundabout – as outlined on the following map. Access will be maintained for pedestrians and emergency vehicles. Cyclists should dismount and take the pedestrian access route.
- Thursday, July 18, (from 7.30am) – reinstatement of the single lane closure nearest the bingo hall site until the overall scheme is completed in early August 2024. All traffic management will then be removed.
Councillor Mark Norris, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Development and Prosperity, said: “Following good progress in recent months, this exciting project in the heart of Pontypridd is nearing completion – to bring a prominent town centre site back into use and create a clear arrival point at the southern end of the town. It will provide a quality, open space with seating areas, greenery and visitor information, while opening up new views of the high street that were exposed when the old buildings were demolished.
“The new bus bays at Sardis Road will also ensure local services can stop at the southern end of the town centre – well-placed to integrate wider public transport journeys with Pontypridd Railway Station located nearby. Both the public space and new bus bays were well-supported ideas in a previous public consultation when we asked residents about how best to use the vacant site.
“We’re now only a few weeks away from Pontypridd hosting the National Eisteddfod of Wales, and I’m pleased that both elements of the scheme are on course to be substantially complete ahead of this major event. Pontypridd residents and visitors are being advised about the final traffic arrangements at Sardis Road, needed between now and the end of the scheme in early August – including overnight road closures required for highway work from July 15-17, and I would like to thank everyone for their patience throughout the construction works.
“The bingo hall redevelopment is a key part of our Pontypridd Placemaking Plan, approved last year to continue the excellent progress across several local regeneration projects in recent years. These include delivery of Llys Cadwyn, Cwrt yr Orsaf and YMa, with progress continuing at Ynysangharad War Memorial Park and the former M&S site, and work coming to a conclusion at the Muni Arts Centre."
The Council is benefitting from external funding for both elements of the bingo hall scheme. The public realm is being delivered via Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns Programme and the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund, while the bus bays received funding from the Regional Transport Fund.
Posted on 11/07/2024