THE people of Cardigan will be asked for their views on how best to use the site of the former Cardigan Hospital.

Housing provider Wales & West Housing (WWH) is holding a drop-in session in Cardigan to give the local community the chance to talk about the future regeneration of the town’s hospital site.

Hospital site owners Hywel Dda health authority is in talks to sell off the prime location for social housing to WWH via the Welsh Government’s affordable housing protocol.

But a campaign is growing in the town to ensure local residents have an input into the process and any decisions on what is built on the historic site.

WWH want to relocate its main West Wales office to the town as it has outgrown its current offices at Newcastle Emlyn. The offices will need to provide space for about 60 staff, plus meeting rooms and a storage depot for Cambria Maintenance Services, WWH’s in-house repairs contractor.

Gareth Thomas, development manager for WWH based in Newcastle Emlyn, said: “We want to relocate our offices and provide 35-40 high-quality, zero-carbon homes specially designed for older persons.

“The location is fantastic, so close to the town centre and the river, and we are eager to get people’s views to inform our plans.

“Our proposals are still in their early stages. We don’t have any detailed plans to show, but by holding an open event we want to give local people the chance to come along and have a chat. We’d like to hear their ideas for the site and give us feedback.”

Wales & West Housing owns more than 1,500 homes in West Wales and has invested more than £12 million in the last three years improving its homes to make them warmer and affordable to live in.

The organisation has ambitious plans to grow in the region with new homes being built and planned in Aberystwyth, Aberaeron, Lampeter, Fishguard and Newport.

WWH deputy group chief executive Shayne Hembrow said: “As we expand, building more homes and providing new services in the region, we want to move to a location where we can continue to grow and make a difference.

“The hospital site gives us the potential for great offices in a prominent position as well as providing well-designed, attractive ‘eco-friendly’ new affordable homes.”

The drop-in session will give the people of Cardigan the chance to meet staff and senior managers from Wales & West Housing and share their thoughts and views about how the site should be used and developed.

WWH group chief executive Anne Hinchey added: “We know lots of people have fond memories and connections to the hospital and I am keen to meet them and hear their views.”

The drop-in session will be held at the Guildhall, Cardigan, between 2.30pm-5pm on Saturday, February 29.