Breaking down England's fiscal devolution plans
David Phillips of the IFS tells LocalGov why England's regional finance reforms are modest by global comparison and what ministers still need to get right.
Relief Roads: £98M relief road opens in the Rhondda Valleys
A new £98M relief road has been opened in Wales to improve access to the Rhondda Valleys.
The Porth/Lower Rhondda Fach Relief Road will link Porth town centre to the Rhondda Fach and the lower end of the Rhondda Fawr. The 8km road will divert traffic from homes in the Porth area and includes 11 bridges such as the Rheola Bridge, and a 5km-long community route for cyclists and walkers.
Opening the road, first minister Rhodri Morgan said: ‘We have worked closely together with the local authority and the contractor Costain in effective partnership to deliver this scheme. This new route will provide significant benefits in terms of journey time savings, the environment and regeneration.’
The partnership project between Costain, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Glamorgan Engineering Consultancy won the Institution of Highways and Transportation ‘effective Partnerships’ award this year.
