Social Audit... Appendix 1 - Introduction

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1. Introduction 

This report has been prepared by D J Thomas M.R.T.P.I. on behalf of the Community Regeneration Department of the University of Glamorgan.  The work was carried out during June – July 2003 and involved visits to the four buildings: - 

Parc Hall, Park Road, Cwm Parc 

Alison House, Youth Centre, Park Road, Cwm Parc 

Ynyswen Welfare Hall, Ynywen Road, Ynyswen. 

Abergorki Hall, Bute Street, Treorchy (External only) 

Interviews were carried out with:-

Brian Jones at Ynyswen Welfare Hall, Ynyswen Road, Ynyswen

Jackie Prosser at Parc Hall, Park Road, Cwmparc and

Alison House, Youth Centre, Park Road, Cwmparc.

Chris Edwards Innovation Centre RCT 

The Report sets out various key issues within a Planning context.

The four buildings are placed within the context of Rhondda Cynon Taff Local Plan which was adopted in 1998. Planning history searches were carried out which are included in this report as are current usage of the buildings. Parc Hall and Abergorki Hall are registered at the Land Registry for Wales. Land registry documents for both buildings are included in the appendices. Alison House and Ynyswen Welfare Hall are unregistered. Ordinance survey plans for both of these buildings are included in the appendices. None of the four buildings are listed. 

The report does not provide a condition survey for any of the buildings or give precise measurements. Until any potential future full planning applications are submitted for any proposed developments all comments made are provisional. Only on submission of planning applications to the Local Authority Planning Department can merits of any proposed developments be fully considered. 

All four buildings are situated in Treorchy which is located north west of Pontypridd. It forms part of a line of settlements, which extend through the Rhondda Valley and is the meeting point of this route with the cross valley link to the Llynfi valley and further west. The town grew around the coal mining industry and a number of collieries operated at Treorchy and neighbouring Ynyswen and Cwmparc. 

Treorchy offers a range of services, including high street shops, primary and comprehensive schools and the Park and Dare Theatre. It serves the communities of Ynyswen to the north west and Cwmparc to the south west. There is a mixture of building within the town but the central core has a strong linear character and consists of terraced housing. 

Access to the town is inconvenient as the route is often congested and passes through residential areas. The railway station provides access to the town centre. 

The Rhondda Valley provides a beautiful natural setting for the town and has determined its linear form. The landscape has been altered through industry, but there is little evidence of this today as colliery sites have been redeveloped or planted. The Rhondda Fawr river runs through the town. Housing is typically terraced and streets are regular.

(Ref. Draft Treorchy Town Centre Outline Regeneration Strategy 2003)

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