14/01/2025
EUROPE’S LARGEST CYCLING AND WALKING TUNNEL PLANS SUBMITTED 🏴
Plans for the initial phase of a major project to re-open the Tunnel and transform it into Europe’s longest walking and cycling tunnel have been submitted.
The Rhondda Tunnel Society has submitted an application to Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) Council for the excavation of land to expose the Blaencwm portal of the tunnel.
A planning statement accompanying the application states:
“The Rhondda Tunnel Society is committed to reopening the disused Rhondda Tunnel and transforming it into a walking and cycling path that will reconnect the Rhondda and Afan Valleys.
“Spanning nearly two miles, the restored tunnel would become Europe’s longest walking and cycling tunnel.”
The application site is situated to the west of the village of Blaencwm in the northern part of Rhondda Cynon Taf, northwest of a bus turning area at Michael’s Road.
The statement emphasises that this planning application represents the initial phase of the project, focusing on the re-exposure of the Blaencwm portal and the associated former cutting.
It said:
“The proposals are considered to mark the first steps in the long term, strategic objective of unlocking the Rhondda Tunnel, to allow for pedestrian and cycle access between the Rhondda and Aber Valleys.” The planning statement said that the tunnel was currently owned by the Department for Transport and managed by Highways England, and ownership rules prevented it from being re-opened without ownership being transferred to another suitable body.
It added that a detailed examination of the tunnel and its structural integrity was conducted in 2018, which identified that the tunnel was in excellent condition, barring some sections which required repair work. The proposed works involve excavating infill material to reveal the portal, with the excavated material relocated to a plateau south of the site.
It said: “Re-opening the portal will enable detailed structural investigations to inform the subsequent stages of this transformative project.”
It added: “The opening up of the tunnel’s entrance portal as part of this application, would contribute to the eventual development of a safe, secure cycle route through the Rhondda Tunnel in the long-term, connecting the Rhondda Valley with the Aber Valley.”
In total, it is proposed to excavate and remove 8,000 cubic meters of spoil. This spoil will be placed on a grassland area with bare ground, scrub, and scattered (low-quality) trees and shrubs. The area is not expected to be visible to the public.
The spoil area will be left to regenerate naturally, but seeding with a neutral grass mix may be necessary to encourage the growth of native species over time.
The Rhondda Tunnel, constructed by the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway, commenced construction in June 1885 and was inaugurated in July 1890. Notably, the tunnel experienced a temporary closure in February 1968 and a permanent closure in December 1970, following the Ministry of Transport’s decision to discontinue passenger services due to the substantial repair costs.
By this period, coal mining in the upper Rhondda Fawr had largely ceased, leading to the filling in of the tunnel cuttings and the landscaping of the surrounding area. The Rhondda Tunnel Society’s vision was to transform the tunnel into a unique and captivating destination, attracting visitors of diverse ages and abilities.
This transformation aimed to make the Rhondda Tunnel, the longest walking and cycling tunnel in Europe, a must-visit attraction in the northern region of Rhondda Cynon Taf.
📸-Richard Williams
