FREE town centre parking will once again return to Aberdare and Pontypridd throughout the whole of December 2025! Returning for a twelfth year, the Council is continuing to help and encourage residents to Shop Local, to give a festive boost to our fantastic town centre traders across the County Borough.
The popular yearly initiative will see parking charges in all Council car parks waived after 10am each day, from Monday, December 1, to Wednesday, December 31, inclusive. The offer intends to encourage residents to do as much of their festive shopping locally as possible – visiting our vast array of wonderful local businesses at a very important time of the year for them.
And why stop with your shopping? Our town centres host a range of festive events throughout December and have a great selection of local food and drink outlets for visitors to enjoy. The free parking offer will help increase access to all that our retail areas have to offer at this exciting time of year.
In Aberdare, FREE parking will apply to car parks at Crown Buildings, Green Street, Library, Duke Street, High Street, Nant Row, Rock Grounds and the Ynys. In Pontypridd, it will apply to Gas Road, Goods Yard (Council-owned section only), Millfield, Berw Road, Sardis Road and Catherine Street.
Please note that Library, Green Street, Duke Street and High Street car parks in Aberdare Town Centre, and Gas Road car park in Pontypridd Town Centre, are all short-stay locations – allowing for a maximum period of four hours. Find out more information about Council car parks through our website.
Town centre visitors are also reminded that if you park before 10am during the offer period, you must display a ticket up until 10am. Car park ticket machines accept contactless card payments, while retaining a cash payment option.
Running alongside the free parking offer, the Council will also support a £1.50 maximum fare for all bus journeys that start and end within Rhondda Cynon Taf, throughout the whole month of December 2025. This cheaper bus travel will be applied across all bus operators, from the first to the last service each day – again intended to help residents, visitors and traders this festive period.
Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Investment, said: “Free parking over the Christmas period has become a popular initiative in Rhondda Cynon Taf. There’s so much going on in our town centres and high streets throughout December, and our free parking offer will contribute in a small way to help people enjoy the festivities. This is particularly important at a time that can be very expensive for families, and when the cost of living remains high.
“An important part of our free parking offer is to promote the Shop Local message. We understand that Christmas is a very important time for traders, and we’re encouraging residents to visit our excellent town centres and support our local high street businesses during December. We’re also offering cheaper bus travel again this December, which will be capped at £1.50 for a single journey anywhere in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area – providing public transport users with a saving as they access local businesses and festivities."
Posted on 26/11/2025