Phase 2 gets underway

Many thanks to everyone who came along to our demolition event to witness the start of phase two of the scheme.

The demolition and site clearance will take approximately four weeks and then work on the new buildings can begin.

Phase two will result in a new parade of 11 retail units, a state of the art health centre, a community hub containing a council ‘one stop’ shop, a flexible community space and enterprise units.

Work is due to be completed in March 2012 when the local retailers move into the new retail units, allowing the townhouse buildings to be finished.

Several local people turned up to witness the old shops being knocked down, including resident Anette Jones: "I was born down here - it's a very emotional day, the end of an era."

Naveed Rahman, chair of the Butetown Retail Forum, said that, "People will forget about the old square when the new centre is built and redeveloped. People have been there for a long time and some people are a bit reluctant for change but eventually they will come round and I'm sure it'll be brilliant for the area."

One familiar face working in the chemists for over 30 years has been Olive Powell, who described the upheaval of relocating to the temporary premises. "It was a bit sad just before Christmas having to move but we are getting to settle down here now and we are looking forward to the new place, it's going to be really nice. It needed doing - it was getting run down."