Monumental job for trust (From Campaign Series)

Monumental job for trust

12:14pm Monday 12th May 2008

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TWO monuments have been moved from their sites so work can progress on the new 269-bed at Ysrad Fawr.

Landscaping work is well underway at the site for Caerphilly's new local general hospital with the relocation of the Cenotaph and Victorian fire station.

Months of planning went into making sure that the two historic monuments could be moved in one piece to a focal point near the proposed main entrance to Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr.

The relocation of the 19th century fire station and Cenotaph took almost a day with 12 workers required to move the two monuments 200 metres. The Cenotaph will be the main landmark in the new memorial garden, which will open to the public in time for the D-Day anniversary on June 6.

Simon Davies, associate capital project director of Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust, said that it was important that the two icons remained a major part of the new hospital's landscape. "Not only do these two monuments have great historical importance but they are also an established part of the local community. We wanted to make sure that the designs for Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr incorporated both the fire station and the Cenotaph in a sympathetic and fitting way."

Andrew Cavil, project manager at HBG, the company responsible for the construction of Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr, added: "This was a delicate job to make sure that the monuments made it to their new homes in one piece. Both have been strategically placed as part of the 'way-finding' strategy to help hospital users find the main entrance with ease by looking out for the two landmarks."

Major work on the new 269-bed hospital is due to start later this year. Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr is due for completion in 2011.

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