Plaid Cymru Caerphilly Together, We Can Build a Brighter Future

Plaid Cymru councillor Greg Ead has welcomed action to open an access to Caerphilly’s park and ride site after it was blocked off last week preventing access.

He wrote to council officers highlighting the problems that commuters were facing, particularly those living north of the town. No trains are currently running north of Caerphilly due to rail electrification works.

The Penyrheol councillor said:  “Last Thursday I needed to travel to work in Cardiff, and as my nearest station was closed, I drove to Caerphilly park and ride to catch a train.

“However, when I got to the end of Van Road, the roundabout and entrance to the park and ride was blocked off by cones and temporary traffic lights for workmen to work on the new leisure centre, I presume.

“So I had to drive to Caerphilly Business Park, do a U- turn, then drive past the main entrance back into town and park in the pay and display car park instead.

Somewhat inconvenient but made worse by the fact I had no idea that the park and ride was closed, and the bollards were not down, so there was no way to enter the park and ride car park.

“When you consider that there are no trains running north of Caerphilly for the next six weeks, this was extremely inconvenient for anyone who needed to catch a train to Cardiff for work or other reasons.”

Councillor Greg Ead said that he shared the problem on Facebook and had received comments from other similarly inconvenienced travellers.

In response to his concerns, a council officer wrote:  “We have received your email today regarding the four-way lights on the Van Road roundabout.

“I am very sorry about any confusion here, however, the arm leading into the park and ride is not closed but down to one lane. The access to the park and ride is not closed from the roundabout. There may, however, be some confusion due to the layout of the traffic management having to be adopted on this section of works.

“There are approximately two weeks of construction works left to complete in this area. We will liaise with the traffic management company and the contractor on site to arrange signage indicating that the park and ride is open as usual.”

Councillor Greg Ead added:  “I’m pleased that after my intervention the council is acting to sort out the confusion.”