A recent fire at a deserted hospital building in Paisley – believed to have been deliberate – remains under investigation by police.
Emergency crews were called to the former Royal Alexandra Infirmary (RAI) in Calside on Sunday, June 28, after a blaze broke out at the property.
Firefighters subsequently brought it under control, with no injuries reported, but enquiries are still ongoing to establish exactly what happened.
Councillor Eddie Devine, who represents Paisley Southeast, was at the scene as the flames were extinguished and the area was made safe.
The veteran politician was inundated with messages from worried neighbours in the days that followed.
He is hoping for progress as “quickly as possible”, adding: “People that live near there are obviously anxious about it. It was incredibly scary for them.”
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The B-listed heritage treasure between Calside and Neilston Road, which was ravaged by a fire in 2022, has been a long-running source of anguish for nearby residents after becoming a target for vandals and ghost hunters.
It appeared to have landed a major lifeline in May 2024 when the relevant permissions were granted for a multi-million-pound redevelopment of the site.
The old RAI and its grounds were earmarked for transformation into flats under the plans approved by Renfrewshire Council. However, it remains to be seen whether that vision will come to fruition.
Last week, Councillor Devine stressed the need for strengthened security measures at the building, saying: “We’re all hoping something is going to be done.
“It’s been highlighted now and some sort of action is needed, rather than people just talking about it.
“They need to make sure the site is secure but it also needs to be something substantial when it comes to strengthening the security.
“I don’t know whether that could be CCTV or a physical presence. The windows also need to be looked at on the different floors.
“It’s a concerning situation and they need to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
When asked for an update on Thursday, Police Scotland said enquiries are ongoing. It previously disclosed the fire was being treated as “wilful”.
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