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Council car parks

Car park designations in Rhondda Cynon Taf are broken down into three categories: short stay, long stay and limited waiting.

Whether pay & display, or free, parking time in short-stay car parks is strictly limited to 4hrs, long-stay car parks provide all-day parking, with bespoke arrangements in limited waiting car parks, (always check the signage in the car parks to be sure how long you can park for and whether or not a tariff charge applies).

Short stay car parks

Charging hours (Aberdare and Pontypridd only) 8:00am to 3:00pm Monday - Friday, Saturday 8:00am - 10:00am except bank holidays.

Sample Table
Up to an hourUp to two hoursUp to three hoursUp to four hours
50p £1.00 £1.50 £2.00

Long stay car parks

Charging hours (Aberdare and Pontypridd only) 8:00am to 3:00pm Monday - Friday, Saturday 8:00am - 10:00am except bank holidays.

Sample Table
Up to four hoursOver four hours
£1.00 £2.00

Ticket machines used in the council’s car parks only accept payment in the form of coins and do not give change.

Currently, Council car park charges in Pontypridd and Aberdare are unable to be paid for using a card payment.

The Council has very competitive, low charges for these facilities – and FREE parking from 3pm on weekdays, after 10am on Saturdays and all day on Sundays.

However, Payment Service Providers and Merchant Banks have very high processing fees for card payments.

Introducing card payments would therefore almost certainly result in the costs being unfairly passed on to car park users, which the Council views as unacceptable.

This is why, where card payment facilities are offered elsewhere, the parking charges are often considerably higher than our Council car parks.

Nevertheless, the possibility of offering alternative payment methods will continue to be investigated in the hope that a cost-effective solution can be found.

 

Limited waiting car parks

For the benefit of shoppers and visitors, some towns have limited waiting car park facilities, whereby parking is strictly limited to 2 hours, with no return permitted with a further 2 hours

The car parks with a limited waiting facility are:

  • Miskin Road Car Park, Mountain Ash
  • Hannah Street Car Park, Porth
  • Bridge Street Car Park, Tonypandy
  • Tonypandy Square Car Park, Tonypandy

Goods Yard car park Pontypridd

Since October 2012, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council only retains the right to manage and enforce the lower section of the Goods Yard Car Park adjacent to and behind the Bowls Centre. All Rhondda Cynon Taf Council parking bays are clearly marked with blue bay markings.

The remainder of the Goods Yard Car Park comes under the management enforcement of a private company.

Signage has been erected by the Council to clearly indicate the section of car park continuing under Council control. Car park users are strongly advised to consult Council information boards (situated next to ticket machines) prior to purchasing a pay & display parking ticket to ensure understanding.

Catherine street car park

This car park is a long stay car park. Please take a ticket on entry to the car park, and prior to returning to your vehicle please pay at the pay machines situated at the pedestrian access level on Mill Street (coins only, no change given).

  • Opens 7am
  • Closes 7pm

Charges:

Monday - Friday
Up to 4 hours - £1
Over 4 hours - £2
Entry after 3pm free

Saturday
£1 for entry before 10am
Free parking for entry after 10am

Sunday and Bank Holidays

Closed

Car parking charges apply to ALL users.

Season tickets can be used at this car park. The Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system will recognise valid season ticket holder vehicles when entering/exiting the car park.

Monthly and annual car park permits (season tickets) - in Aberdare and Pontypridd only

Sample Table
PeriodCharge
Monthly £20.00
Annually £200
Apply for a monthly or annual car park permit
 Please note only one vehicle can be applied to a permit

Alternatively, season tickets can also now be purchased via telephone by calling the Parking Services Department on 01443 425001. (Please allow at least ten days prior to preferred season ticket start date).

Please Note:

The car park permits (season tickets) are only valid in the Council's Long-stay car parks.
The purchase of a season ticket does not guarantee the availability of a parking space, particularly during peak times when parking is in high demand.

Motorcycle parking

Motorcycles may only park free of charge in Council car parks if parked in a designated Motorcycle area. These areas can be found in the

  • Green Street, Library and Crown Buildings Car Parks in Aberdare,
  • Miskin Road Car Park in Mountain Ash,
  • Gas Road Car Park in Pontypridd and 
  • Tonypandy Lower Car Park in Tonypandy.

Motorcycles parked outside of these areas must follow the same rules as other motor vehicles and park in a normal parking bay and the rider must purchase a ticket for the duration of the stay.

Disabled parking in council car parks (excluding Catherine St Car Park)

A vehicle displaying a valid Blue Disabled Badge may only park free of charge in Council car parks  if parked in a designated disabled bay. If no designated disabled bays are available and the driver chooses to park in a normal parking bay, then the tariff for that bay must be paid. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is committed to providing disabled parking facilities within our Pay and Display car parks and currently has substantially more designated disabled bays than Government guidelines suggest.

Locations and designation of council car parks

View all Rhondda Cynon Taf car parks on a map

Sample Table
LocationDesignationOpening hours
Aberdare 
Crown Buildings Car Park Long stay 24 hours
Library Car Park Short stay 24 hours
Green Street Car Park Short stay 24 Hours
Gadlys Pit Car Park 

Long stay

(permits only)

7:00am – 7:00pm (Mon-Sat, except Bank Holidays)

Duke Street Car Park Short stay 24 Hours
High Street Car Park Short stay 24 Hours
Nant Row Car Park Long stay 24 Hours
Rock Grounds Car Park Long stay

24 Hours

Ynys Car Park Long stay 24 Hours
Mountain Ash (FREE parking)
Henry Street North Car Park Short stay 24 Hours
Henry Street South Car Park Long stay 24 Hours
Miskin Road Car Park Limited Waiting 24 Hours
Pontypridd 
Gas Road Car Park Short stay 24 Hours
Goods Yard Car Park Long stay 24 Hours
Millfield Car Park Long stay 24 Hours
Berw Road Car Park Long stay 7:00am - 7:00pm (Mon-Sat, except Bank Holidays)
Sardis Road Car Park Long stay 7:00am - 7:00pm (Mon-Sat, except Bank Holidays)
Catherine St Car Park Long stay 7:00am - 7:00pm (Mon-Sat, except Bank Holidays)
Porth (FREE parking)
Porth Plaza Car Park Long stay 24 Hours
Hannah Street Car Park Limited Waiting 24 Hours
Tonypandy (FREE parking)
Dewinton Street Car Park Long stay 24 Hours
Tonypandy Upper Car Park Long stay 24 Hours
Tonypandy Lower Car Park Short stay 24 Hours
Bridge Street Car Park Limited Waiting 24 Hours
Tonypandy Square Car Park Limited Waiting 24 Hours

Locked car parks

Where car parks are locked at 7:00pm, any vehicle that requires to be let out of the car park will incur a release fee of £50 (inclusive of VAT). Details stating this charge can be found at the pedestrian exits of the car parks concerned. Contact - 01443 425005

Parking services
Tel: 01443 425001