A project to turn an historic former hospital into a community centre has taken another significant step forward.
Housing association United Welsh and the Caerphilly Miners’ Centre Project have agreed a 99-year lease for the former hospital’s original Beeches building.
The Caerphilly Miners’ Centre for the Community group is trying to raise £1 million to bring the building, originally paid for by local miners, back into community use.
Caerphilly MP Wayne David, Chair of the Caerphilly Miners’ Centre group, said: “This is a significant milestone for the Miners’ Centre, and while there’s still some way to go our destination is now in sight.
“The Miners’ Centre will be a marvellous facility and the signing of the lease will spur on everyone to raise the funds necessary to complete the project.”
So far the Caerphilly Miners Centre group has secured grants and donations of more than £600,000 towards the cost of refurbishing the building.
A preferred contractor, Newman Builders – a family business from Ebbw Vale – has now been appointed to start work at the end of May.
The first stage of their work will be to restore the roof and walls of the building and make it safe and weatherproof. The ground floor of the building, which should be open to the public in 12 months time, will provide a café, learning centre, IT suite, and tutorial rooms and will provide space for local groups to meet.
Caerphilly Miners’ Centre group secretary Katherine Hughes said: “We are greatly indebted to United Welsh for its confidence in and ongoing support to the project, which we hope will contribute to a thriving, engaged and sustainable community in South West Caerphilly.”
Tony Whittaker, Chief Executive of United Welsh, added: “We’re really pleased to have signed this long-term lease with The Caerphilly Miners’ Centre. It’s a real statement of intent and will allow the group to push on and begin the redevelopment of The Beeches building in earnest.”
• If you are interested in supporting the cause please contact Katherine Hughes on 029 2088 6569 or you can donate at www.justgiving.com/caerphillyminers/
An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the building was listed.