Queueing vehicles led to traffic chaos in part of Cardiff on Monday (October 24) after roadworks began for the new hospital, Velindre Cancer Centre. It marked the first day of roadworks commencing in the Whitchurch area of the city, which are set to continue for a few months.
But the first day saw queuing traffic on several roads, including Penlline Road, Northern Avenue, Park Road and Kelston Road. The £180m cancer centre, which will be situated on land near the existing hospital called the Northern Meadows, has already proved highly controversial with some community members and clinicians who believe it would be better off next to a larger hospital like the University Hospital of Wales (UHW).
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Dozens of cancer experts claim not having Velindre co-located at UHW would be a "missed opportunity". They also said modern cancer treatments needed a range of services on site including a surgery and intensive care unit. The Save the Northern Meadows campaign group, which has held several protests, warned that current plans would have a massive impact on biodiversity in the area.
In July of this year, however, it was confirmed that the new cancer centre in Cardiff was on course to welcome its first patients by 2025. Building work on the new Velindre Cancer Centre is set to begin in March, 2023. You can get more Cardiff news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
Three new roads will lead to the new hospital: a main route from the northwest, a temporary route for construction vehicles from the south, and an emergency access road from the east.
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