The Council will shortly welcome local residents’ views on the A465 Cynon Gateway North (Aberdare Bypass) highway scheme – and they will be able to access detailed plans, a virtual fly through and an online public meeting.

The future scheme, which the Council is committed to delivering, will extend the A4059 Aberdare Bypass by 1.2km – from a point between Trecynon and Hirwaun, heading north to create a new link to the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road. It will coincide with Welsh Government’s dualling of the A465 from Hirwaun to Dowlais Top, which will create a new junction at Croesbychan.

The A465 Cynon Gateway North will have huge benefits – including improving connectivity between Rhondda Cynon Taf and the Heads of the Valleys region, improving road safety and reducing traffic travelling through the village of Llwydcoed, along with reduced journey times and environmental benefits.

During September 2020, Cabinet Members granted Officers the authority to progress several important elements of the scheme – including submitting a planning application and finalising a Compulsory Purchase Order.

As part of its work to submit a planning application, the Council will undertake an important consultation exercise with residents in a Pre Application Planning process. This will run for around four weeks from Wednesday, October 14, to Tuesday, November 10, and residents can take part in a number of ways:

Accessing information via a dedicated consultation webpage hosted by planning consultant Redstart. Residents will be able to view detailed plans for the new 1.2km road and take a virtual video tour – travelling between the current A4059 bypass to the A465 at Croesbychan.

Completing an online survey/feedback form. Residents will be able to have their say on the proposals and sign up via email to be kept up-to-date with the various important stages of the project as it progresses.

Taking part in an online public meeting hosted by Officers via Zoom. Further details about these sessions, including times/dates and how to take part, will be communicated in due course.

On October 14, the following webpage on the Council’s website will be updated to include a link to the consultation homepage hosted by Redstart – www.rctcbc.gov.uk/currentconsultations. The Council will use its social media accounts (‘Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’ on Facebook and ‘@RCTCouncil’ on Twitter) to promote the consultation throughout the four-week period.

Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways and Transportation, said: “The A465 Cynon Gateway North is one of the Council’s priority highway schemes to be progressed and completed over the coming years, along with the Llanharan Bypass and the A4119 dualling from Coed Ely to Ynysmaerdy. The Council has received support from Welsh Government to carry out this scheme alongside the A465 dualling, and over £4.3m is committed to the project so far via significant Council and Welsh Government contributions.

“Extending the A4059 Aberdare Bypass to Croesbychan will have several huge benefits – improving connectivity between the County Borough and the Heads of the Valley region and beyond, while also significantly reducing local journey times. For instance, traffic traveling between the north of the Cynon Valley and Merthyr will no longer need to travel through Llwydcoed, nor divert to Hirwaun Roundabout – having a huge benefit to the local environment.

“Cabinet’s recent decision on September 24 has progressed the planning process for this scheme, enabling the Council to consult with residents as part of the Pre Application Planning process. The Council has today confirmed that this will start on October 14, lasting four weeks. Our usual consultation methods are a little different at this time due to the restrictions in relation to the Coronavirus pandemic, and the need for social distancing.

“However, I would urge residents to have their say via a number of available methods – including viewing detailed plans online, accessing a video tour of the new road, taking part in virtual sessions via video conferencing and completing a questionnaire. The information that is received by the Council in this exercise will help conclude the design process for the scheme, as we work towards submitting a planning permission later this autumn.”