Published: Thursday, 9th October, 2008 7:30am

First view of vet"s hospital

THIS is how the new £1.6 million veterinary surgery and canine rehabilitation centre on Haldane Avenue will look, once completed next summer.

Links Veterinary Group is moving from its current Court Street premises to new purpose-built headquarters at Alderston Field, after its plans were given the green light by councillors in May.

The project had been opposed by nearby residents and Haddington and District Community Council. When first revealed last autumn, the planning application featured a "cattle crush", a special cage used to restrain large animals during surgical operations.

Residents were concerned by the potential noise from the kennels and the "cattle crush", fearing they would be kept awake at night by the sound of distressed animals.

The company later amended its planning application, dropping the livestock facility and outdoor kennels altogether. Its revised plans feature an indoor cattery and kennels.

The new vets" hospital will have 519 square metres of floor space - three times the size of the company"s Court Street premises - and parking for 20 cars.

The adjacent rehab centre is a separate unit of 95 square metres.

Along with state-of-the-art medical facilities, the hospital will have an integral staff flat, allowing on-site veterinary supervision and monitoring of animals throughout the night.

Glenn Watson, a partner in Links Veterinary Group, said: 'So far, things are going to schedule. We are now in the third week of ground clearance work and the construction phase is expected to start some time next week.

'We remain on track to get the work completed by the end of May 2009.'