Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council opened its much-anticipated riverside plaza on the former Marks & Spencer site in Pontypridd yesterday, describing it as a vibrant new public space that exposes views of the river and the park and creates a modern new heart for the town centre.
The public, it is fair to say, has a more mixed view.
AberdareOnline has been monitoring reaction on social media since the opening, and the comments on Pontypridd Town’s Facebook page make for revealing reading. While some residents have welcomed the development, a significant number have raised serious concerns — about the design, the cost, the lack of facilities, and the broader question of whether this is really what Pontypridd needed.
The Concerns
The most consistent criticism is one the Council may struggle to answer: there is no shelter. Pontypridd sits in a Welsh valley. It rains. A great deal. Multiple residents pointed this out with varying degrees of exasperation.
“No shelter or shade, it rains a lot,” observed one resident simply. “Why does nothing in Ponty have shelter? It does rain a bit here,” echoed another. A third noted that she had read articles this week about redesigning town centre landscapes with more greenery to keep temperatures down, and wondered why the plaza appeared to consist largely of concrete and seating.
The absence of public toilets was also raised. “What about toilets? Ponty town doesn’t have any. The park does but that’s closed in the evening,” pointed out one commenter — a practical concern for anyone planning to spend time at a riverside space with food and drink kiosks.
Concerns about anti-social behaviour were widespread, with numerous residents expressing worry that the open space would attract drug users and rough sleepers. While AberdareOnline does not endorse the language used by some commenters in expressing this concern, the frequency with which it was raised suggests it is a genuine anxiety among local people rather than isolated negativity.
Questions about income generation were also prominent. “How much income will this investment generate?” asked one resident. “Not generating much income there, even if it looks nice,” observed another. These are legitimate questions about a £5.6 million public investment at a time when council tax across RCT is among the highest in Wales.
The Design
Several residents questioned the design itself. “Looks like a concrete jungle. Where are the trees, flowers, shade? Not a good look for Pontypridd. It could have been something special,” wrote one. “Literally just concrete and seating?” asked another.
One commenter offered a more measured but pointed critique: “It looks better in the video but this is essentially an expanse of grey paving with some ill thought out seating and wood bark. As with the concrete steps it seems as though the designers and architects have never spent time in the town and are driven purely by budget. We could have had something exciting, commercial with committed draw.”
What People Wanted Instead
The calls for a splash park or outdoor pool were striking in their frequency and passion. Resident after resident recalled the days when Ynysangharad Park had an outdoor pool that drew families from across the valleys, and argued that a facility for children would have generated far more footfall than an open plaza. “The park and town was heaving years ago when the park had the outdoor pool for the kids,” recalled one resident. “A splash park for the little kids would have been more beneficial and brought more footfall.”
Others argued that the money should have been used to reduce retail rates and rents to attract businesses back to the high street, or to create something commercially viable that would generate a return on the public investment.
The Voice From Outside the Valley
Perhaps the most pointed comment of all came from Adrian Moses, who wrote: “Aberdare is running into disrepair too. Lloyds Bank closed this week, no fight to keep shops open in Aberdare or Rhondda. Ponty seem to get it all.”
It is a sentiment that will resonate strongly with readers of AberdareOnline, and one that this publication has been raising with RCT Council for some time.
The Case For
To be fair, not all the reaction was negative. Several residents welcomed the development and argued that critics were being unrealistic about the future of town centre retail.
“Damned if they do and damned if they don’t! What a load of miserable moaners! Be grateful they are regenerating the town. Looks great to me,” wrote one. A resident who visited on the day reported meeting a wheelchair user who praised the accessibility of the space, describing it as brilliant and very easy to use.
Others pointed to the potential for festivals, live music events, pop-up markets and community gatherings. “Ponty town centre is approaching a European level of outdoor space appreciation,” enthused one commenter. Another noted that Pontypridd already has a growing number of festivals and independent businesses, and argued that the plaza could become a genuine community asset if used imaginatively.
One resident who works in Bristol drew a comparison with similar riverside spaces there, noting that they are used brilliantly for small live music events that create a fantastic atmosphere.
The Unanswered Question
Among the hundreds of comments, one stood out for its simplicity and its relevance to a much bigger story that AberdareOnline is currently investigating: “What are the Council’s plans for the police station and multi-storey car park site? Hope it’s something far more beneficial to the town than this.”
It is a question the Council has yet to answer fully. What is clear is that Pontypridd is losing a car park and a police presence, gaining an open plaza, and spending millions in public grants doing so — while towns like Aberdare watch and wait for investment that never seems to arrive.
The residents of Pontypridd have had their say. The jury, it is fair to say, is still out.
Celebrating the opening of a vibrant new public space in Pontypridd
The Council is pleased to confirm that the former M&S site development in Pontypridd Town Centre will be handed over to the Council and opened for the public to use and enjoy from Thursday (June 25). Council Leader, Councillor Ann Crimmings, has recently visited the site to see the final preparations being made.
The exciting development has removed the large, unused buildings that may have otherwise fallen into disrepair – and created a vibrant, central space that exposes views of the river and the park, and can be used to support town centre events. Areas of seating and greenery have been included, while the town has been opened towards the river for the first time in over 100 years.
While the newly-established ‘riverside plaza’ is now ready to open, some important finishing works are still outstanding, and will be carried out soon to fully-complete the scheme. This includes the installation of two food/drink kiosks, which are planned to be delivered to site and installed this Sunday.
Contractor Horan Construction Ltd will hand the Taff Street site to the Council on Thursday, June 25, enabling it to be opened straight away. Councillor Crimmings visited on Monday to see the area, celebrate the investment, and thank the contractor for the delivery of the scheme.
From Thursday, the site will be opened up from Taff Street, while there will be a separate access point near the park footbridge. It will remain open while the outstanding works are completed in the period ahead, with some areas cordoned off ensuring safety. This includes the next phase of electrical supply to the site, which will be completed in coordination with The National Grid.
The delivery of the two food/drink kiosks will follow this Sunday evening (5pm-10pm, June 28) which will require a brief local road closure. The Council has shared further information on social media in advance of the works. Following their delivery, the kiosks will require connection to utility services and a final internal fit out before coming into use.
This priority investment is part of the Council’s Pontypridd Placemaking Plan, which is delivering regeneration investment across the town, including upgraded flood alleviation improvements. More than £5.6 million of external funding was previously secured to deliver the project, with contributions from Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns Programme (£3.68 million) and UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (£1.95 million).
Councillor Mark Norris, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing said: “I’m delighted to celebrate the opening of this important public space created within Pontypridd Town Centre, with the Council delivering upon its commitment to bring the large site back into use. This project, combined with the public realm scheme at the former bingo hall site, has made a huge difference to ensure this area of town feels lighter and brighter – while creating a modern new space that everyone is welcome to enjoy, and exposing fantastic views that look over both the river and the park.
“We’ve welcomed integral funding and support from both the UK and Welsh Governments to deliver the project, with the Council securing a total £5.6 million funding package. It’s the latest success story in our wider Pontypridd Placemaking Plan which has delivered key regeneration projects across town – from the Llys Cadwyn development to the Cwrt yr Orsaf extra care housing scheme, Y Muni, YMa, and many improvements at Ynysangahrad War Memorial Park. We’re also developing an exciting scheme for the police station and Berw Road Car Park site, as our focus now turns to the town’s northern gateway.
“With the ‘riverside plaza’ ready to open on Thursday, it’s been fitted out with lighting, seating, and green areas – and these will soon be joined by two food/drink kiosks being delivered to site on Sunday, June 28. These are part of some additional works that will need to be completed, and visitors may notice those activities taking place soon. I’d like to thank residents, businesses and visitors to Pontypridd for accommodating our works over the past year – and I’d also like to thank our contractor Horan for their dedication in delivering this scheme on time for everyone to enjoy, particularly over the summer ahead.”
The scheme has integrated key features such as trees and foliage, new biodiverse habitats, and sustainable drainage solutions. Most of the site has been raised out of the flood zone, which is based on flood modelling. The lane leading to the Ynysangharad Park has also received enhanced resurfacing and lighting.
Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns Programme aims to redevelop and improve town and city centres. The Programme actively encourages mixed use towns as places to live, work, visit and stay. Find more information here.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) proactively supports delivery of the UK-government’s five national missions: pushing power out to communities everywhere, with a specific focus to help kickstart economic growth and promoting opportunities in all parts of the UK.
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