Hospital bosses plan to get pond looking healthy
Bid to revamp neglected RAH water feature
Plans are in the works to redevelop the pond at Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital to help improve the surroundings for patients.
The neglected water feature and surrounding areas could be transformed with a new jetty, outdoor learning facility and wildflower meadow under proposals lodged with Renfrewshire Council.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board has secured funding to begin work to revamp the pond with more work expected when cash become available.
The firm behind the plans, ERZ, said in a design statement provided to the local authority’s planning department that the site is ripe for redevelopment.
It states: “The pond was installed when the hospital was built in the late 1980s and was conceived of as a place where staff could relax, eat and socialise.
“Over the last 30 years, the pond area has suffered from lack of proper management.
“Substantial areas of bulrush are encroaching into the middle of the pond and self seeding alder trees have taken root on its banks.
“Around the pond a mixture of mature specimen trees, groves and scrub sit within grassland which is seasonally boggy in places.
It added: “Despite its modest size, the pond area, which sits at the sheltered southern end of the campus, already contains a range of habitats and distinct spaces.
“Through a process of refinement , design intervention and ongoing management, it has the potential to become a highlyvalued resource socially, ecologically and clinically.”
The health board commissioned a strategic review of RAH grounds last year in a bid to identify areas of improvement.
A scheme to improve the grounds at the pond and the adjacent hill has now been devised, with work expected to start this autumn if given the go-head by planners.
Architects say the new pond area could have a positive impact on clinical outcomes.
They said: “Using the outdoor environment to support the clinical activities of the hospital.
“This may be focused on providing facilities for cardio and physio rehab, but could extend to include the provision of outdoor teaching and breakout spaces.”
The pond was installed in the late 1980s and was conceived as a place where staff could relax and eat