Town Centre Regeneration
As well as new property developments and refurbishments, Merthyr Tydfil town centre currently has various schemes in place keep the town centre up-to-date with projects involving infrastructure, facilities, transport and access.
As a result of Objective One Funding, and investment from the Welsh Assembly Government, Heads of the Valley Initiative and private sector investment, a wide range of physical regeneration projects are currently underway.
Below are a selection of projects currently being undertaken. The Town Centre Regeneration Project includes a range of economically based town centre regeneration initiatives such as building enhancements, public realm improvements, new signage & information boards and funding for the Town Centre Manager.
High Street Public Realm Improvements
Update 2nd January (2008)
Snagging works to the High Street will continue on Monday. The works to Market Square and Victoria Street did not commence pre-Christmas due to the large amount of visitors to the town centre. This work will commence shortly.
Update 17th December (2008)
The paving works have now been completed. The signage, street lining, benches, litter bins and cycle racks have also been installed.
The snagging of the site will continue this week, along with the installation of the bench lighting, and the re-laying of the existing paving off Victoria Street into Market Square
The site compound at the rear of the library will also be cleared of all materials and debris this week too.
Update 11th December (2008)
The contractors are working towards completion of the scheme tomorrow. This means that all the re-paving works will be completed by tomorrow.
Over the weekend road lining, sign installation and street lighting will also be completed. The snagging of the site will still be ongoing to ensure all work is completed to the highest standard.
Additional work to the contract will be the tie in area at Victoria Street and Market Square. This area needs to be re-laid with the existing paving, this is mainly due to the amount of traffic and heavy goods that have passed through the area during the project resulting in an uneven surface. This work will be undertaken in small sections over the weekend.
The current environmental improvements to the High Street started in August 2007. Delays have occurred in the programme due to unforeseen circumstances, that could not have been predicted. Extensive site investigations were undertaken prior to the contract commencing, but additional cellars and service upgrades have caused added complications.
The town centre public realm had deteriorated rapidly with the floorscape in a very serious state of disrepair. The new design for the High Street and Market Square includes:
- new high quality granite floorscape
- improved drainage
- street signage
- seating
- planting
- public art
The project has also installed new street lighting to buildings, thereby removing the proliferation of lighting columns and street signage.
For a weekly update on the works please visit, www.merthyrtydfil.org.uk or alternatively click on regular updates above.
The Café Quarter
The creation of a Cafe Quarter at the lower part of the High Street was officially completed on November 30th 2008, and the contractors will no longer be based on site. The automated bollard system will be in operation shortly, we are currently awaiting BT to connect the system to a 24 hour emergency call system. We are also awaiting delivery of a bronze handrail and some road signage.
This project forms part of the environmental improvements to the High Street. The design of this area varies slightly from the High Street enabling a sense of place for the Cafe Quarter. A new public space and greater definition of existing areas will also compliment the Cafe Quarter.
The two main elements of the project are concerned with the treatment of the existing floor space, focused on Lower High Street and the redesign of the area around Lucy Thomas Fountain to form a new public space suitable for street markets and exhibitions.
Merthyr Tydfil Town Centre Approaches
Merthyr Tydfil has been the subject of a number of strategies to improve the identity of the town and improve pedestrian orientation. As a result Merthyr Tydfil CBC appointed the team of Philip Cave Associates and Placemarque to look at how the identity established for the town centre could be extended to the main approaches and what new landscape, signage and artwork elements could be introduced to announce the arrival at Merthyr Tydfil and draw passing traffic into the town.
Currently we have completed:
- new uniform street signs across the town centre.
- directional fingerposts at key locations across the town.
- town centre maps and interpretation panels at sites of interest throughout the town centre.
- banners along all key routes into the town centre advertising events and attractions.
- Re-location of the Charles Sansbury sculpture to the Caedraw Gateway, with hard and soft landscaping plus lighting in the evening.
Also recently completed is the new gateway at the Rhydycar/A470 entrance where pennant dry stone walls have been erected to mark the entrance to the town centre, along with soft landscaping features.
River Corridor Improvements
In March 2006 Austin Smith Lord consultants prepared the River Taff Corridor Strategy that identified a range of projects that could be implemented to improve the landscape of the River Corridor. The first phase of completed works includes:
- Penry Street Bridge and Riverside Walkway Improvements to incorporate new railings, lighting, landscaping, and new paving
- Jackson’s Bridge Area Enhancements including the creation of a new public park with a pathway liking to the Taff Trail, seating and complimentary planting.
- The treatment of Japanese Knotweed in the river and it's banks, resurfacing and widening of existing footpath, tree planting and new street furniture.
- Taff Trail Enhancements to include an improved pedestrian route into the Town Centre between the A4120 and the Taff Trail, resurfacing Taff Trail with (natural materials), and landscaping.
Recently completed is the fish pass and viewing platform over the River Taff and atmospheric lighting of the scheme
This project was funded through the HOV Programme
For further details about Regeneration in Merthyr Tydfil, please contact:
Regeneration Department
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Civic Centre, Castle Street
Merthyr Tydfil CF47 8AN
Tel. 01685 725007
Fax. 01685 723751
towncentre@merthyr.gov.uk