SOME of Monmouth's most frail and elderly residents are to be re-housed for a year when the Almshouses on Whitecross Street are demolished and rebuilt to 21st century standards.

The current buildings, built in 1961, boast some 20 flats housing 19 vulnerable residents aged up to 104-years-old.

But the Haberdashers' Company, the appointed trustees of the William Jones Almshouse Charity, believe the outdated and cramped facilities are no longer suitable for accommodating such people and are embarking on a major project to re-build the houses on their current site.

A spokesperson explained: "It is apparent that the almshouses are no longer fit for their purpose. Their outdated design does not provide the quality of accommodation that the Haberdashers' Company believes should be made available to older people."

It was added that a number of options had been considered - with an entirely new facility on Monmouth's Whitecross Street site, subject to planning and funding issues, the preferred choice.

The demolition will require the current residents to be carefully re-housed in the local area while the work is undertaken, with the Charity agreeing to accept all costs and responsibility for the sensitive operation.

The spokesperson added: "We understand this is a delicate transition and that we are dealing with people's homes. So we hope to be able to keep disruption to a minimum and have been consulting with residents from the start."

The Monmouth almshouses were first established by William Jones in 1615. At the same time, another almshouse was built in Newland in the Forest of Dean with the Haberdashers Company appointed as trustees of both.

But under the new project, the ten units at the Newland facility are to be sold off and those residents offered permanent relocation to Monmouth. The money from the sale, due to take place in 2009, will be invested in the new Whitecross development hoped to be completed before that date. Overseeing the closure of Newland and re-development at Monmouth will be almshouse-specialists Bristol Charities, of whom David Jones is the chief executive.

Mr Jones said: "By combining the assets from both sites it is anticipated that modern accommodation can be developed at Monmouth.

"The current Newland residents have been offered the opportunity to relocate to that accommodation, once it is completed."