A meeting was held this week, between developers, councillors and residents to discuss plans for the demolition of the former Co-op site in Calne.
Representatives from Cedar Care Homes, local councillors and residents living near the Church Street site attended the meeting, where Chief Operations Manager for Cedar Care Homes, Arjun Desai, outlined the current timeline for the project.
He confirmed that the Lower Pippin car park will close from Monday 5th May to allow hoardings to be installed around the site, along with welfare units for workers. Once in place, security cameras and movement sensors will be installed.
Asbestos removal is due to begin on 1st June and is expected to take around 12 weeks. Mr Desai said the work would be carried out under controlled vacuum conditions and would not pose a risk to nearby residents.
Demolition of the building is currently expected to take place later in the year, with September given as an indicative timeframe, although this could change.
During the meeting, residents raised concerns about disruption during the works, particularly around traffic movements, noise and the impact on parking, with the planned closure of the Lower Pippin car park highlighted as a key issue.
Concerns were also discussed around how demolition activity would be managed and what measures would be in place to minimise effects on neighbouring properties and the surrounding environment.
Cedar Care Homes said it was keen to maintain a positive relationship with residents and would continue to engage with the community as the project progresses.
The company is expected to submit a planning application for the future of the site later this month, with a further public meeting planned in the near future.
Cllr Bobby Seymour said after the meeting: "It was encouraging to hear that the next step could be a public meeting bringing together the architects, developers and local residents, giving everyone the opportunity to ask questions and better understand the final plans."
Want to know what’s on in Calne? Visit our local events page for listings and to find out how to add your own events for free. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news. Have you got a story for us? Email editor@calnenews.com
