Work on Barry's new transport interchange is now well underway. The interchange development will be situated at the Grade II listed Barry Dock Office and include a bus and taxi interchange, a park and ride facility and an upgrade to Barry Docks train station.
Work on phase one of the development, which involves the construction of the bus and taxi interchange, started on January 9. A major driving force behind the new transport interchange is to encourage more people to use public transport, reduce congestion on the roads and help combat climate change.
Vale of Glamorgan Council's cabinet member for sustainable places, Councillor Bronwen Brooks, said: "I think it will make a huge impact. You can bring all of those forms of travel together so that people can come here to the hub and then travel on to where they want to go." On top of the bus and taxi stands, the interchange will include a public drop off area, cycle parking and electric cycle hire provision. A central landscaped area will also be included in the development.
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It is envisaged that this will potentially be used for a future development, notably a cycle hub and café. However, these would be subject to a separate planning application. When asked how the council will encourage people to make use of the new development once it is build, Cllr Brooks said: "I think it is about our promotion within the council and outside the council with various organisations and businesses and linking in then with the public transport operators as well.
"We can use that then to promote the facilities that we have got here. I think there are people who are becoming more and more aware of climate change and that they want to do their little bit towards that." Phase one of the interchange development is scheduled to be complete by May 2023.
The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and major financial pressures have led to delays on construction projects across the country. However, Cllr Brooks added that she is confident of phase one being finished on time. She said: "A huge amount of work and planning has gone into this and I think we have hit the ground running.
"They started on site last week and they have built everything that is around us. They have already started the ground works now. Obviously weather is a factor. It is winter, but outside of those difficulties I am very confident."
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