Work has started to demolish the GSPCA animal shelter in St Andrews, so a new Wildlife Hospital can be built, after nearly eight years of fund raising.
Known by staff and managers as the “big build” the new site will be home to dog kennels, seal pools, animal welfare treatment rooms, an aviary, and a ferret unit, among other facilities.
As work started to knock down some of the older buildings, Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said: “The GSPCA is delighted to announce our biggest build in our 152 year history,” adding that the charity has had some “challenging times in preparation to knock down many of our oldest buildings”.
The start of construction work doesn’t mean it’s all paid for though, with more fundraising needed, said John Knight, GSPCA President.
“We can commission the work, and start it, but there is a lot of fundraising to do to finish the job,” he said.
The GSPCA has said the site is going to be split into a wildlife and domestic area to provide facilities for the 3000+ animals that the GSPCA helps each year.
“This is our main priority and we are very excited to be moving forward with what is a facility for the future to ensure the wildlife of Guernsey and surrounding waters and islands have the emergency care they really need,” said Mr Byrne.
David De La Mare, Managing Director of DLM Architects said that, currently, the site is a series of sheds and outbuildings, and the architects approached the new design by “rationalising it into one building that sort of wraps the boundary” while keeping access to the road.
The building work is being carried out by Breton – with Managing Director Brent Green overseeing the work.
“Logistics is probably the biggest issue in terms of access to the site, but beyond that, the build and the general construction is something we do we’ve done before,” he said.
Mr Green explained that everything is going to remain the same in terms of access to the GSPCA while the building work continues over the next 18 months.
“It’s quite a tight site, so we’re working within the sort of constraints of the existing trees around the boundary, and then trying to meet the demands that they needed for maximising the seal pools – the seal pools being the biggest space, then the aviary for birds, and general treatment rooms for the hedgehogs.”
Mr De La Mare also explained that the GSPCA will be running the charity throughout the job with Mr Green adding they’re working closely with Mr Byrne, his staff, and volunteers.
Acoustic enclosures will be put up when the actual building work starts so there’ll be minimal disruption to the animals.
“Three seals and 25 hedgehogs have all been relocated,” said Mr Green.
“You’ve got a duck pond just on the other side here, the ducks haven’t given up. Every morning our guys are moving them back to the duck pond. They are quite militant- they’re not moving.
“Once it’s built it’s going to be a fantastic building. It’s going to be light years ahead of the facilities they had before.”
Mr Knight said he’s looking forward to seeing the end result, adding that the GSPCA is continuing to fundraise to cover the costs of the building work.
“The actual building we can just about cover, but we need more money to fit it out properly. Funds are tight,” he said.
The public can donate the build online by visiting the GSPCA Just Giving link HERE
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