Decision details

The Service Director Frontline Services provided Cabinet with an update on the current progress related to the development and delivery of the major transportation project: A4119 Ely Valley Road Dualling, Llantrisant Business Park to Coed Ely Roundabouts. 

          Members were informed that Preliminary design of the project had been completed and was now at detailed design stage which was due to be complete in Spring 2021.  The Service Director advised that as part of the continual value engineering of the project, the roundabout servicing the South Wales Fire Service Headquarters had been retained as the accommodation work required for a new entrance required extensive engineering works which would have resulted in increasing the cost of the project by a further £2m.

    Details of an agreed partnership approach with Welsh Government to provide an Active Travel compliant foot/cycle bridge instead of an underpass at the Coed Ely roundabout were also advised upon.  Members learnt that the bridge would serve the development site as well as providing an Active Travel route. Members were advised that Welsh Government were working with the Council to address the additional costs.

    The Cabinet Member for Enterprise Development and Housing welcomed the update report and commented upon the many benefits people from the County Borough would experience through the project and welcomed the additions outlined by the Service Director. 

    The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services commented on the benefits the scheme would have for the Rhondda Valley and queried whether the retained roundabout at the Fire Headquarters would link into a dual carriage way as he spoke of the bottleneck situation currently experienced. The Service Director confirmed that the intention was to have a dual carriage way layout to prevent any future congestion.

The Leader spoke positively of the project and again reiterated the benefits the project would have for lots of residents and commuters in and out of the County Borough adding that the project would be complimented by future work with the Coed Ely development site.

    Following discussions it was RESOLVED:

(i)             To note the progress made and endorse the next steps in the programme for the project.

(ii)            To give delegated authority to the Group Director Prosperity, Development and Frontline Services to submit a planning application on behalf of the Council for the proposed Active Travel bridge at Coed Ely roundabout.