RCT Council has announced that car park charges in Aberdare and Pontypridd town centres will be FREE after 10am each day from this Saturday morning (October 24) – for the remainder of 2020.

The announcement has been made following the ‘firebreak’ lockdown implemented by Welsh Government (from October 23-November 9), which will help prevent the spread of Covid-19 following a steep rise in cases in Wales.

Council-run car parks in Aberdare and Pontypridd will be FREE after 10am each day from Saturday, October 24, up until December 31, 2020. They remain free all day on Sundays and Bank Holidays during this period.

Today’s announcement also continues the free festive parking initiative in Rhondda Cynon Taf, where the Council has suspended charges after 10am for the month of December for a number of years. This encourages people to Shop Local and explore our wonderful High Street businesses in the run up to Christmas – if the circumstances allow this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways and Transportation, said: “The Council has today announced that parking will be free in Aberdare and Pontypridd after 10am each day starting this Saturday, which is the first full day of the ‘firebreak’ lockdown. It will continue for the next 10 weeks right up until New Year’s Eve.

“This temporary measure will initially support businesses in the lockdown, by encouraging residents to Shop Local when leaving home for limited permitted reasons – for example food and medicine shopping – and also supporting those key workers who cannot work from home. In the weeks after the ‘firebreak’, it is aimed at increasing trade and employment in each town, and supporting public health advice to only use public transport if it is essential.”