A local company has played its part in the ongoing construction
of a £10 million new animal hospital in Birmingham.
Wednesfield-based Edward Howell, part of Wedge Group
Galvanizing, was called upon to galvanize 53 tonnes of steel used
by fabrication firm Midland Erection Ltd on initial structural work
at the RSPCA's new animal hospital and re-homing centre, which is
being built on 72 acres of land at New Bank Farm, Frankley.
The new centre will replace the charity's current site at Barnes
Hill, which was built back in 1962. It will become one of just four
dedicated animal hospitals across the UK, and the RSPCA's first
facility to have a hospital and re-homing centre built next to each
other on the same site.
Jim Lindsay, Commercial Manager of Edward Howell, commented:
"Once completed, the new hospital will have an extremely positive
impact on animal care in not just Birmingham, but the wider West
Midlands. I'd encourage everyone throughout the region to show
their support for the RSPCA's Leaps and Bounds appeal, which is
looking to raise £3 million towards the building work."
"This fantastic new building will be the only site in the UK
that can complete the full journey for an animal in RSPCA's care,
from initial rescue, through to remedy, rehabilitation and
re-homing," Chris Poole, Managing Director of Brierley Hill-based
Midland Erection Ltd, revealed.
Construction work is expected to be completed by August, with
the facility incorporating kennel space for up to 60 dogs, a
160-capacity cattery, increased space for smaller animals, such as
rabbits and birds, specialist isolation rooms for sick animals, and
a dedicated night arrival centre to help deal with out-of-hours
animal rescue.
In the last year, the RSPCA has rescued approximately 6,000
animals throughout the West Midlands, making the region the
charity's busiest area in the country outside of London.
Wedge Group Galvanizing is the largest hot dip galvanizing
organisation in the UK with a history dating back over 150 years.
With 14 plants strategically placed across the country, they offer
a truly national galvanizing service.