A STEERING group is to be set up by Cardigan Town Council in an effort to influence the future redevelopment of the old hospital site.

Wales and West Housing (WWH) recently confirmed the purchase of the site at Pontycleifion from Hywel Dda health board and said it was keen to explore several options for its redevelopment, including if at all possible, the restoration of the John Nash-designed part of the original building.

Architects are now drawing up proposals for older persons housing, as well as the company’s offices and maintenance branch.

At July’s meeting of the town council, Mayor Cllr Clive davies said: “I would like to create a steering group to take this forward.

“They need to still involve the town as it is such a crucial site and a steering group would be one way of doing this. We need to be involved and I hope they take the idea positively.”

Councillors agreed to the suggestion, with Cllr Wynne Jones adding: “I think it is essential. We have to keep track of it and to keep on top of them.”

A letter to the council from Monima O’Connor described the hospital as a “much loved, historical local treasure” and she argued it should be repurposed to continue providing a benefit to the whole community around the Cardigan catchment area and maintained as a Community Asset.

Cllr Shan Williams said she had looked into the sale of the site by Hywel Dda health authority to Wales & West Housing but because the sale of the site originally had not been through a compulsory purchase order, there was nothing anyone could do to prevent the latest deal.

“I am sorry we lost out there but at 4CG we are now trying to establish a Community land Trust to work with WWH to get five of the plots into a CLT for local people.

“In establishing a CLT, if land comes up again in Cardigan, we will be in a position to get the land back for the town.”