RCT Council has secured more than £8.5 million funding for key transportation schemes within several Welsh Government grant programmes in 2025/26. This includes important funding for active travel, resilient roads, road safety, improving pedestrian facilities near schools, and unadopted roads.

Key specific allocations include the delivery of Phase Five of the Rhondda Fach Active Travel Route, developing new walking and cycling provisions between Talbot Green and Llanharan as well as Treorchy and Treherbert, and development of a new Safe Routes in Communities scheme for Cwmparc.

Various funding programmes are available for councils in Wales to bid to each year, with officers putting forward targeted schemes within Rhondda Cynon Taf for consideration. Any investment secured will be delivered alongside the Council’s £29.647 million Capital Programme for Highways, Transportation and Strategic Projects in 2025/26, which was recently agreed by Cabinet.

Welsh Government’s funding allocations for next year have now been formally announced, confirming that Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has successfully bid for £8.56 million funding across seven of its grants.

A breakdown of these successful bids has been included below:

Active Travel Fund (2025/26) – £6.048 million

Core Allocation (£1.05 million) – Development of two new active travel routes, between Talbot Green and Llanharan, and Treorchy and Treherbert, respectively. Additional schemes have also received agreement in principal, and are continuing to be developed at that stage.

Rhondda Fach Active Travel Route, Phase Five (£4.998 million) – Full funding for delivery of this final section of the main route between Ferndale and Tylorstown.

Resilient Roads Fund (2025/26) – £1.5m

Total Allocation (£1.5 million) – This fund supports transport projects to adapt to climate change, including addressing -disruption cause by severe weather on busy roads. Officers are developing a 2025/26 programme of schemes to bring forward following this year’s funding allocation.

Safe Routes in Communities Fund (2025/26) – £287,200

Cwmparc Safe Routes Scheme (£287,200) – Development and delivery of this new scheme, which will deliver a range of speed reduction measures and improved pedestrian facilities near Parc Primary School.

Local Transport Fund (2025/26) – £100,000

Cynon Gateway North (£100,000) – To progress the detailed design of this major transportation scheme, towards its delivery in a future financial year.

Road Safety Revenue Grant (2025/26) – £100,200

Mega Drive, Kerbcraft, Balance Bike, Pass Plus etc. – To deliver these popular schemes in local schools and communities over the next year, via the Council’s dedicated Road Safety team.

Welsh Government’s 20mph Initiative – £405,104

Capital funding (£405,104) – To support the ongoing review, with funding for procurement licenses and software, and engagement with consultants.

Unadopted Roads – £120,000

Core allocation (£120,000) – Providing additional funding in this area, on top of the Council’s capital programme allocation for four new schemes in 2025/26.

Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Investment, said: “This important external funding of £8.56 million will complement the Council’s £29.647 million Highways Capital Programme for 2025/26, providing key funding aligned to Welsh Government’s priority areas. It is also important to note that this does not include Welsh Government funding for flood alleviation, which will be supported across several further grant funding programmes.

“Active Travel continues to be a shared priority for Welsh Government and the Council – to create new walking and cycling routes in our communities, while also improving existing provision. Encouraging people to walk or cycle as part of their everyday routines has many benefits, from improving health and well-being to protecting the environment. I’m pleased the newly-secured funding will enable us to deliver the fifth and final phase of the Rhondda Fach Active Travel Route from Ferndale to Tylorstown, while also developing two new routes between Talbot Green and Llanharan, and Treorchy and Treherbert.

“We’ve secured Resilient Roads funding over several years, complementing Welsh Government’s wider flood alleviation funding to target key areas of our highway network with a history of flooding. Officers are now compiling a list of schemes to be brought forward this year using the new £1.5 million funding.

“Safe Routes in Communities is another funding avenue that we’ve benefitted from over a number of years – to improve pedestrian facilities and create safer environments in our communities, with a particular focus on the streets near local schools. We’ve recently completed a scheme in Hirwaun, following another in Hawthorn last summer, which were funded by Welsh Government in the 2024/25 grant. The secured funding for the year ahead will enable us to develop and deliver a new scheme for the community of Cwmparc.

“The Council’s new Highways Capital Programme earmarked important funding to continue our Unadopted Roads initiative with four new schemes in Hirwaun, Hopkinstown, Cwmbach and Abercynon. This will enable us to improve further privately-owned roads that have not been maintained to a suitable standard, and adopt them for future maintenance by the Council. Welsh Government has allocated an extra £120,000 for this area, which will enable us to bring forward a further scheme within the 2025/26 programme.

“Finally, the design of the future Cynon Gateway North transportation scheme has been supported by the 2025/26 Local Transport Fund, while key funding is also secured to support our Road Safety Team’s important work within the community over the next year, and the ongoing review of the 20mph initiative.”