RCT Council has secured £3.43m funding for Active Travel from Welsh Government in 2023/24 – which includes investment in the Rhondda Fach Active Travel route, establishing a formal route in Cwmbach and Trallwn, and replacing Riverside bridge in Llwydcoed.

The total funding of £3,433,700 has been awarded to Rhondda Cynon Taf from the Active Travel Fund, covering the current financial year. In a separate recent announcement, Welsh Government has also confirmed that £384,290 has been awarded to the Council in the Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) Transformation Fund. A summary of the funding allocations is included below:

Active Travel Fund (2023/24) – £3,433,700

Core Allocation (£1.05m), providing funding for the following areas:

– Rhondda Fach Active Travel Route, phases 3, 4 and 5 (Ferndale to Tylorstown).

– Establishing a formal active travel route through Cwmbach.

– The Taff Trail between Nant Cae Dudwg Bridge and Trallwn.

– Monitoring and promotion of the Active Travel Integrated Map.

– Town Centre enhancements in Aberdare and Pontypridd.

– Active Travel route between Treorchy and Treherbert.

– The Cynon Trail link at Swansea Road in Hirwaun.

– Various links in Church Village.

– Active Travel Route between Talbot Green and Llanharan.

– Taff Trail enhancements and realignment at Trallwn.

Cynon Trail link and enhancements (£443,700):

– Riverside bridge replacement in Llwydcoed.

Rhondda Fach Active Travel Route (£1.94m):

– Full funding for phases 1 and 2, (Maerdy to Ferndale).

ULEV Transformation Fund (2023/24) – £384,290

Phase Two of the ULEV Transformation Fund (£299,290):

– Progress several key activities including site appraisals, feasibility studies at proposed locations for fast and rapid charging, delivery of destination and hub locations, and employment of project roles.

Access to the National EV insights and Strategy service (£85,000):

– Rhondda Cynon Taf will be the host authority for all 22 Local Authorities in Wales.

Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Investment, said: “I’m pleased Welsh Government has allocated more than £3.8m to Rhondda Cynon Taf, enabling us to continue investing in key areas such as Active Travel and Ultra Low Emission Vehicles infrastructure. We welcome this continued support, which will enable us to make important progress in the current financial year.

“Promoting walking and cycling as part of people’s everyday routines remains a priority area of investment – to improve people’s health and well-being, reduce vehicle numbers on our roads, and protect the environment. It is an important aspect of the Council’s Climate Change goals and commitments.

“The new £3.4m funding will deliver key schemes across the County Borough – including the first five phases of the Rhondda Fach Active Travel route from Maerdy to Tylorstown. This will complement future plans to use the current Tylorstown landslip site as part of the wider Active Travel route. The route will vastly increase walking and cycling opportunities for local communities.

“Earlier this year, the Council consulted residents on its proposals to formalise the current route of the Taff Trail at Trallwn – to improve safety for users, make the route easier to follow for people who are not familiar with the area, and promote access to communities and attractions nearby. Residents were also consulted about the Riverside bridge replacement in Llwydcoed in 2022 – and I’m pleased that both schemes can now be progressed this year.

“Other key schemes to receive funding include providing the ‘missing’ element of the current route through Cwmbach, providing a key link for the Cynon Trail at Hirwaun, establishing an active travel route between Talbot Green and Llanharan, and targeted schemes in Aberdare and Pontypridd town centres.”