COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL Civic Centre, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8AN

Main Tel: 01685 725000 www.merthyr.gov.uk

INFORMATION REPORT

Date Written 31 March 2011 Report Author Carolyn Tobin Service Area Corporate Property & Physical Regeneration Committee Date 13 th April 2011

To: Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen Regeneration Project: High Street & Trelewis Gateways

PURPOSE OF THE REPORT:

To inform members of the appointment of Capita Symonds to develop the Trelewis High Street Traffic Management Scheme and works to Pont Squire Bridge as part of the Treharris Trelewis Gateways

1.0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

1.1 In 2010 MTCBC Physical Regeneration Team secured £4.9m for the delivery of the Taff Bargoed Regeneration Programme 2010-2014

1.2 Capita Symonds has been appointed to develop the Trelewis High Street Traffic Management & Public Realm Enhancements scheme and improvements to Pont Squire Bridge as part of the Treharris Trelewis Gateways Improvements scheme. Both projects are part of the wider Taff Bargoed Regeneration Project.

2.0 TRELEWIS HIGH STREET

2.1 An internal project team has been established which consists of Head of Engineering, Head of Estates, Physical Regeneration Manager, Highways Engineer and Taff Bargoed Regeneration Manager.

2.2 In January 2011 Capita were invited to submit a fee bid to design and manage the project through tender stage and appointment of contractors to implementation and completion. 2.3 A fee bid was received for £78,395 which equates to 14% of the project costs which is considered realistic and reasonable for the project’s complexity and time required.

2.4 Capita Symonds were appointed through the Capita Joint Venture Company (JVC) in February 2011

2.5 Design work will start in February 2011 and it is planned that these will be finalised by late spring ready for works to start in summer 2011.

2.6 Members will be kept updated and local members will be invited to the public consultation events detailed below as well as separate briefings as the as the project progresses.

2.7 Consultation events have been held as follows § 1st March general public meeting to identify concerns and issues § 16 th March participatory event looking at options and issues § 6th April public exhibition showing options and preferred way forward § 23 rd May – final designs ready

2.8 The Taff Bargoed Regeneration Partnership and Taff Bargoed Communities First partnership will be involved in the consultations.

2.9 Capital works budget is £500,000 and project completion is expected for Winter 2011

3.0 PONT SQUIRE BRIDGE

3.1 The bridge is situated in the area identified as part of the Trelewis/Treharris Gateway Enhancements. A structural survey carried out in December 2010 has identified essential repairs to the bridge and a method of strengthening the structure to prolong its life for another 120 years. A fee bid was received from Capita Symonds of £9,400. Capita Symonds are producing drawings and tender documents with a view to appointing contractors from the SE Construction Framework by early summer. MTCBC Engineers will manage the project implementation. The works budget is £150,000 and works are due to be completed by Autumn 2011.

4.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATION(S)

4.1 The programme is funded through the ERDF Convergence programme and Welsh Assembly Government Heads of the Valley’s programme and Targeted Match Fund. Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council has contributed £175k to the programme and all funding is approved.

5.0 EQUALITIES IMPACT ASSESSMENT

5.1 An Equality Impact Assessment has been undertaken and no negative effects have been identified at this stage

GARY THOMAS DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER SERVICES

BACKGROUND PAPERS Title of Document(s) Document Location Document(s) Date

Trelewis High January Physical Regeneration Street Traffic 2011 management & Public Realm Enhancements Brief Physical Regeneration October Taff Bargoed 2010 Regeneration Programme Business Plan: final version

Pont Squire December Physical Regeneration Bridge Survey 2010

Consultation has been undertaken with Executive Board in respect of each proposal(s) and recommendation(s) set out in this report.