The campaign to save 95 acres of Paisley green space has been dealt a hammer blow as it’s revealed a legal challenge against developers could cost in excess of £35,000.
Save Paisley’s Green Space has this week revealed its three-year fight to save the grounds of Dykebar Hospital from development has come to an end due to the financial risk involved in a judicial review.
Bellway Homes, Cala Homes and Barratt Homes were formally granted planning permission for their proposed 600-house Thornly Park village by the Scottish Government Reporter in April this year.
The application, which had garnered an 800-strong petition against it, had earlier been thrown out by Renfrewshire Council.
Judicial review was the last avenue open to Save Paisley’s Green Space, which was desperate to secure the area as a haven for wildlife and patients at the mental health hospital.
Yesterday, the group dubbed NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde chiefs as “hypocrites” for selling off the site while, at the same time, celebrating the impact of renewed biodiversity on people’s health at the nearby Royal Alexandra Hospital.
A spokesperson for Save Paisley’s Green Space said: “For the many people who have faithfully supported the cause of Save Paisley’s Green Space it is a heartbreak and great disappointment to come up against the financial reality of challenging planning appeal decisions in the courts through judicial or statutory review.
“The costs that can be incurred are prohibitive for the financial means of the average person to risk.
“The developers, with all their financial and legal resources, are always in a far better position to defend themselves and always will be until there is a more financially level playing field.”
The development will see a range of homes from one-bedroom flats to five-bed detached houses built around a central meadow where the wetland is currently situated.
It is expected to take eight years to complete.
The Scottish Government Reporter issued his judgement in April at the same time NHSGGC progressed plans to reinstate a pond at the RAH, complete with a boardwalk and Halo gardens.
Health chiefs then hailed the improvements and the obvious impact they would have on people’s physical and mental health.
The Save Paisley’s Green Space spokesperson added: “It is also pretty annoying for our supporters to read that the NHSGGC are giving themselves a pat on the back for, on one hand, creating a nice little green space with a pond at the RAH for patients to enjoy but on the other hand are happy to permit developers to rip up acres of green space and wildlife habitat and destroy many beautiful mature trees at Dykebar Hospital.
“Save Paisley’s Green Space have fought so hard to protect this space which could have been transformed into a beautiful, peaceful and useful environment for so many people, importantly for patients too, to use and
enjoy.
“Alas they did not have the foresight and preferred to just sell it off for 603 houses and increased traffic on inadequate roads.
“Not the greatest move for our environment.”
A spokesman for NHSGGC said the sale of the land would put “vital” cash back into the health board.
He said: “In line with Scottish Government guidance, there are clear steps in relation to the disposal or transfer of land involving NHSGGC.
“An extensive consultation period with members of the public and local community was undertaken ahead of the planning process and we are committed to providing the best possible setting for those working and being cared for on the site.”
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