The 172-space car park remains “spooky” and unused despite starting just off the M4, but local residents are not impressed with the parking spaces still in pristine condition.
The Wales car park, despite its pristine condition and convenient location by the train station, has remained unused for years.
The haunted car park hit the headlines more than a year ago, drawing attention to political decisions that have led to blocked roads and dangerously high levels of pollution for residents. Now, a year later, new images reveal the current state of the car park – still unused.
Located just off Station Road in the South East Wales village of Rogiet, the car park is a sight to behold. With pristine tarmac, 172 perfectly paved bays, 10 EV charging points (and space for 16 more), wide lanes and immaculate lines, it’s a shame it remains abandoned.
Between the M4 to the south and the M48 to the north in Monmouthshire you will find the picturesque village of Rogiet and the bustling town of Caldicot. With Bristol, Cardiff and Newport a stone’s throw away and two motorways practically on your doorstep, you’d be forgiven for thinking these residents are some of the best connected in Wales.
However, the M4 westbound is one of the busiest stretches of motorway in the UK. This is partly due to the infamous Brynglas tunnels, but also due to the highway’s irregular interlacing, multiple junctions in quick succession and steep hills that slow down lorries.
The proposed solution, the M4 feeder road, was scrapped by Mark Drakeford after millions were spent on the development plans, mainly due to environmental concerns over the potential destruction of Gwent wetlands. Regardless of the merits of the decision, it left a significant issue unresolved: how to ease M4 congestion around Newport?
The newly built car park near Severn Tunnel Junction train station, which adjoins Rogiet, has been designed to ease pressure on the motorway by encouraging westbound travelers towards Cardiff to park and take the train, North Wales Live reported. However, this plan caused considerable problems for the residents of Rogiet and Magor.
To get to the car park, drivers have to drive through the village of Rogiet on the congested station road. This narrow road is lined with parked cars, several crossings and, during rush hour, children heading to a nearby elementary school. Despite being only 25m from the platform, drivers face the problem of being on the wrong side of the tracks.
This requires a walk back across the bridge and down a dimly lit single lane next to several lots to get to the station. After reaching the platform, another problem occurs. Many trains on the South Wales Mainline do not stop at Severn Tunnel Junction, instead continuing direct 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). A Welsh Government plan to reduce traffic on the M4 by encouraging the use of a new station at Rogiet has hit a snag, with local residents expressing serious concerns about the impact on their village.
Sebastian McVicker-Orringe, vice-chairman of Rogiet Community Council (RCC), raised these concerns during the planning process for the station car park, describing the proposal as “obviously unsafe for pedestrians” due to the existing dangers of Station Road. Some days there are no vehicles parked in the bays at all. Commuters seem to find sitting in traffic less inconvenient than driving through a congested village and waiting potentially 40 minutes for a train that may not even arrive.
The South Wales Metro development, with Severn Tunnel Junction as the first stop on the line to Cardiff city centre, may increase the frequency of train services. The controversial decision to cancel the relief road has condemned many to endure the pollution indefinitely.
The Welsh Government’s strategies to alleviate the problem have yet to prove successful 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 complete the next stage of improvements to the South Wales Mainline and build new and improved stations on it. These improvements are helping to encourage more people to switch from car to rail, but like any change it will take time.” Monmouthshire Council has been approached for comment.