Planning permission sought for £2m park bridge. But is it for access for new car park in Ynysangharad War Memorial Park?

The planning application has been submitted for the new bridge across the river in Pontypridd linking the new Taff Vale development with the park.

The Labour Cabinet say it is to encourage people there to come into the park and enjoy what it has to offer. Local Welsh Lib Dem Councillor Mike Powell has questioned this and thinks that it would be far better for the town if people in the offices there had to walk around, past shops and cafes to get to to the park, thus encouraging them to spend.

"I simply cannot see the logic of spending £2 million on this when there is another bridge yards away giving access to the main gates of the park.
"Unless that is there is a hidden purpose to this. My own suspicion – and I hope I am proved wrong – is that they will look in the near future to build a car park in the park. Staff cars are already allowed access to park in the area alongside the proposed bridge, and by removing trees and knocking down the disused buildings there then they are making more room.

"The argument they will make is that with all the additional people coming in to Pontypridd to work at the Taff Vale site then extra space is needed for cars.

Image 1: Tree removal Image 2: Site area plan. Image 3: Bridge plan