Monumental Masons demolition begins
The former Monumental Masons site started coming down yesterday.
The firm, which had been purchased by Vaudin’s Funeral Services, moved out of the Bordage building in March to take up residence at its new home at Les Huriaux Farm.
The site is now due to become a three-storey extension to the neighbouring Trinity Church.
Vicar Jon Honour said that the church was grateful for the opportunity to buy and develop the site.
‘Our building project is called The Space Project and we are planning to create more accessible space for the church community and the local community,’ he said.
‘This will include a garden, a community cafe, space for youth and children’s work, counselling space and enterprise space.’
Planning permission for the site was passed in November 2023. Plans included a meeting room and bookstore on the ground floor, along with a cafe, with a conservatory and courtyard.
The upper two floors would include a number of meeting rooms as well as the installation of a lift.
The demolition work was being undertaken by local company Bob Froome & Sons.
Joint managing director Roger Froome said the firm had started at the site last week, working inside the building to prepare it to be knocked down.
‘It is going to take a couple of weeks in total, but the road will reopen on Thursday,’ he said.
‘It is a slightly unusual demolition for us as we are taking the building down from the outside as its small doorways and openings made working inside difficult. Because of how close it is to the road this necessitated having the road closed, purely for safety reasons.’
The road had closed a day earlier than scheduled to allow gas and electrics to be disconnected before work commenced.
‘The States has incorporated other works in the road at the same time to make the most of the closure,’ he said.
‘Workers from Tarmac are here doing various road repairs and even the Christmas lights have been taken down.’
The road is completely blocked to pedestrians and cyclists, as well as cars while the work takes place. People on foot and dismounted cyclists can divert down Mansell Street.
