Image Source: Bridgend County Borough Council
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More from this month’s full council meeting.
Cllr. Ian Spiller (Ind, Bryntirion Laleston & Merthyr Mawr) noted an “unofficial” trial of reintroduced traffic in Bridgend town centre during daytime, after a rising bollard on Queen Street was out of action during June and July 2025.
Cllr. Spiller was pleased that no incidents had been reported during this unofficial trial.
As a Bridgend town councillor, he expressed the town council’s support for partial de-pedestrianisation as a means to support town centre traders. On Monday, the town council received a six-monthly report, which showed that the number of empty units in the town centre had increased to 76 out of 392 (19% of all units).
Earlier this week, Bridgend Council’s Cabinet approved an 18-month trial of relaxed traffic rules in Bridgend town centre – including extended loading/unloading hours. Though any reintroduction of one-way traffic along Queen Street, Dunraven Place and Market Street could be part of a second phase.
Cllr. Spiller asked how these measures would, in practical terms, aid in halting and turning around the decline of Bridgend town centre.
New traffic rules “won’t fix the town centre by itself”
Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economic Development & Housing, Cllr. Neelo Farr (Lab, Porthcawl East Central), told members that if the trial is successful, then the situation concerning traffic would be looked at again.
On the issue of empty shops, she said BCBC is holding talks with private owners/landlords on how they can be supported to bring empty shops back into use.
The Corporate Director for Communities confirmed the experimental traffic order could be brought in “swiftly”. However, she offered no date as further road safety assessments need to be done.
The Corporate Director also warned that new traffic rules wouldn’t fix the town centre’s problems. All town centres face the same issues due to a mix of changing shopping habits and developers buying properties, then not doing anything with them.
The future of the town centre is likely to be “mixed-use”, meaning more homes and leisure services.
An update on progress made in delivering the town centre masterplan is expected to be presented to the Cabinet later this year.
