A series of improvements will be delivered in the weeks ahead as part of the Church Village Safe Routes in Communities scheme – focusing on upgrading pedestrian facilities on streets near Llanilltud Faerdref Primary School.
From Monday, January 29, work will begin to establish a safer environment for pedestrians that encourages people to walk more of their local journeys – including families travelling to and from their local primary school. The Council has appointed ERH Communications Ltd as the contractor to deliver the work from Monday. The scheme will last around nine weeks in total, and includes:
- Improving sections of footway, while installing and upgrading informal crossing points using tactile paving where it is necessary.
- Delivering kerb line improvements at the southern junction between St. Illtyds Road and Cae Fardre, which will shorten the crossing distance.
- Cutting back vegetation at a number of locations where it has become overgrown and is an obstruction to Public Right of Way footpaths.
- Constructing a new footway on the southern side of Cae Fardre, between Birch Grove and the playing field access, to formalise a link to the playing fields.
- Removing 40-metres of the layby located to the east of the junction with Station Road, to create a continuous footway at this location.
- Improving the existing footway that stretches along the entrance to Ty Illtyd Car Park and around the junction to St Illtyds Road.
Welsh Government announced that the Council has secured £340,000 funding for these works in Church Village during June 2023, as part of its 2023/24 Safe Routes in Communities scheme. This represents an 80% contribution, and the remainder will be provided by Council match funding.
Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Investment, said: “Work to improve walking routes near Llanilltud Faerdref Primary School gets underway on January 29, after the Council welcomed the latest Welsh Government Safe Routes in Communities funding earlier this year. The scheme has identified several locations where the current pedestrian facilities can be improved upon – from extending footways to widening paths and improving kerb lines.
“The wider 2023/24 funding package also covers a scheme in Hirwaun, which started recently in early January 2024, to install various pedestrian safety and speed reduction measures throughout the village – and also a feasibility study to determine if more school streets in Rhondda Cynon Taf could benefit from future investment. This year’s schemes in Church Village and Hirwaun follow a similar series of works delivered in Llantwit Fardre last year, as well as in Llwynypia, Abercynon, Llantrisant, CIlfynydd and Ton Pentre in recent years.
“The scheme for Church Village represents an investment of around £400,000 in total, and aims to create a safer environment for pedestrians – including local families walking to school. Encouraging more people to walk or cycle their local journeys has many advantages, from protecting the environment to improving health and well-being, and reducing traffic congestion on our roads.
“The Council will work closely with its appointed contractor to complete the work as efficiently as possible, with every attempt being made to minimise the disruption to the community. There are likely to be instances when alternative pedestrian routes are needed as the improvement works get underway, and these will be clearly signposted. Thanks for your cooperation in advance.”
Posted on 26/01/2024