Seskinore based construction firm, PT McWilliams, has been appointed as the contractor responsible for the enabling works that will see the site prepared for the construction of the new acute hospital for the South West.

The name of the successful tenderer for the actual building, at a site at Wolf Lough on the Irvinestown Road out of Enniskillen, is expected to be announced shortly. Three conglomerates are in the running, one of whom lists local firm, Tracey Brothers in its portfolio.

The new hospital is expected to be up and running in the financial year, April 2010 to March 2011 and is expected to provide an enormous boost to the local economy by creating some 3,000 jobs during construction.

Meanwhile, the ongoing preparatory scheme includes works at the entrance to the site on the A32 Enniskillen- Irvinestown Road for a new access roundabout.

The Project Director, Mary Maguire explained that the enabling works included diverting electricity cables underground around the periphery of the site, as well as re-shaping the ground for the new hospital buildings and implementing environmental protection measures.

"The programme of works for this project is about 50 weeks in total and will be completed in April 2008. These site preparation works are a crucial part in our timetable to provide the new Acute Hospital for the people of the south west by 2011 and we are delighted to have reached the stage of appointing a contractor."

The contracting firm, PT McWilliams are based in Seskinore, and have been in operation for 35 years. The firm was established in 1972 to provide a range of specialist services to the construction industry. It currently employs 200 people and has an annual turnover of £30 million.

Tenders for the building of the actual hospital were advertised in the European Journal last July. The project, when completed, will be one of the largest public works contracts in Northern Ireland in recent years. It is leading the way in the Department of Health's investment programme.

Outline planning approval was granted in June last year and, at the time, Ms Maguire described that as, 'more good news and a significant step forward for the project.

She said then: "By moving ahead to advertise for a (main) contractor, we are well on track to deliver the new acute hospital within the time frame of 2010/2011. The next step will be to complete the purchase of the Wolf Lough site and begin the enabling works early next year (2007) to prepare the site for the construction".