A 172-space car park remains ‘ghostly’ and unused despite starting right next to the M4, but locals are less than impressed with the car parks still in pristine condition
A car park in Wales has been unused for years, despite its pristine condition and convenient location next to a train station.
The haunted parking lot made headlines over a year ago, highlighting the political decisions that have led to gridlocked roads and dangerously high pollution levels for residents. Now, a year later, new images reveal the current state of the parking garage, which remains unused.
Located just off Station Road in the village of Rogiet in south-east Wales, the car park is a sight to behold. With spotless tarmac, 172 perfectly paved bays, 10 electric vehicle charging points (and room for 16 more), wide lanes and spotless lines, it’s a shame it remains deserted.
Situated between the M4 to the south and the M48 to the north, in Monmouthshire you will find the quaint village of Rogiet and the bustling town of Caldicot. With Bristol, Cardiff and Newport all on your doorstep and two motorways practically on your doorstep, you’d be forgiven for thinking these residents are among the best connected in Wales.
However, the M4 in the west is one of the most congested motorways in Britain. This is partly due to the infamous Brynglas tunnels, but also due to the irregular weave of the highway, several intersections in quick succession and steep hills that slow down trucks.
A proposed solution, the M4 relief road, was scrapped by Mark Drakeford after millions were spent on development plans, mainly due to environmental concerns about the potential destruction of the Gwent wetlands. Regardless of the merits of the decision, a key issue remained unresolved: how to alleviate traffic congestion on the M4 around Newport?
The newly built car park near Severn Tunnel Junction train station, adjacent to Rogiet, is designed to ease pressure on the motorway by encouraging travelers westbound towards Cardiff to park and catch the train, North Wales Live reported. However, this plan has caused significant problems for the residents of Rogiet and Magor.
To access the parking lot, motorists must navigate the busy Stationsweg through the village of Rogiet. This narrow road is lined with parked cars, multiple intersections and during rush hour children go to the nearby primary school. Despite being only 25 meters from the platform, drivers are faced with the problem of being on the wrong side of the tracks.
This requires a walk back over the bridge and along a dimly lit single-file lane next to some allotments to reach the station. Another problem arises when reaching the platform. Many trains on the South Wales Mainline do not stop at Severn Tunnel Junction, but run straight between Bristol and Newport.
At certain times of the day there can be up to 45 minutes between trains (although this varies throughout the day). The Welsh Government’s plan to reduce M4 traffic by encouraging the use of a new train station at Rogiet has hit a snag, with locals expressing serious concerns about the impact on their village.
Sebastian McVicker-Orringe, deputy leader of the Rogiet Community Council (RCC), raised these concerns during the planning process for the station car park, labeling the proposal as “manifestly unsafe for pedestrians” due to the existing hazards of Station Road. Some days there are no vehicles parked in the bays at all. It seems commuters find sitting in traffic less of a hassle than navigating a busy town and potentially waiting 40 minutes for a train that might not even arrive.
The development of the South Wales Metro, with Severn Tunnel Junction as the first stop on a line to Cardiff city centre, could increase the frequency of train services. The controversial decision to scrap the relief road has doomed many to endure pollution indefinitely.
The Welsh Government’s strategies to alleviate this problem have yet to prove effective as the M4 continues to suffer from regular congestion. A Welsh Government spokeswoman previously told WalesOnline: “We are moving forward with Lord Burns’ recommendations to improve transport in South East Wales, including securing funding to deliver the next phase of improving the South Wales Mainline. complete and build new and improved stations. These improvements will help encourage more people to make the switch from car to rail, but as with any change this will take time.” Monmouthshire Council was contacted for comment.