THE future redevelopment of the old hospital site in Cardigan provides ‘a unique chance to make something really special at the entrance to the town’.
That was the view of local resident Sheila Taylor in a letter to the town council.
Site owners Hywel Dda health authority are currently in talks with Wales and West Housing to redevelop the site for social housing with a public drop-in session due to be held at the Guildhall on February 29.
In her letter, Mrs Taylor said the site is ideally suited for housing for elderly people.
“However, could the idea be taken further,” she wrote.
“There are towns which even recently have built such developments but have designated them alms houses.
“Such a development could possibly get grant funding but even better, with sensitive design by a good architect, using local materials and a low carbon footprint along with a unique chance to make something really special at the entrance to the town, it might even be an award winner.
“We should take this opportunity to be bold. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain. Local people would, I believe be ‘on-side’.
“Don’t let us lose this opportunity to create something really special in the way that the old hospital was ‘special’ to the town.”
Cllr Clive Davies told the meeting that a Facebook page had been created for people to come up with ideas and that a group had been formed to try to influence any future decisions on the redevelopment.
“No planning application has been submitted to the county council at the moment,” said Cllr Davies.
“This is something between Welsh Government, the health board and housing association but all these ideas are something that could be thrown into the mix.”
The Wales and West Housing drop-in session will be held at the Guildhall, Cardigan, between 2.30pm-5pm on Saturday, February 29.
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