Overnight work on cancer centre due to hot weather

A construction company building a new cancer centre has apologised to residents as "unusually high temperatures" mean there will be overnight works for the next two weeks.

Sacyr, which is working on the new Velindre Cancer Centre in the Whitchurch area of Cardiff, said it had to extend its working hours due to recent hot temperatures.

It was responding to resident complaints, regarding noise from overnight construction work on Monday.

The controversial project was given the green light by Welsh government ministers in 2021, following months of high-profile protests against it being built on an area of green space known locally as "the northern meadow".

Cath Lewis, 57, said there was no notice to residents on the estate about the overnight work.

"Many of us know what it's like to be a patient there and we appreciate cancer care in Wales needs to be improved, but disregarding the needs and rights of over 500 people who live on this estate is just not on.

"People were sending messages in the middle of the night saying 'what's happening?'" she said.

Angel Palmer, 34, lives on the nearby Hollybush housing estate and said the construction work kept her five-year-old daughter awake.

"It's hard because I have to go to work early in the morning and hearing a lot of noise at night doesn't really help," she said.

She added that she had to get her daughter to bed early and it was "really disturbing".

In a statement, the company said: "We understand that the works had a significant impact on nearby residents, and we deeply regret any inconvenience caused."

It added extended overnight hours, from 18:00 BST until the following morning, would continue on specific dates during the next two weeks.

"This is necessary to carry out long concrete pours due to the unusually high temperatures during the day," it said.