Decision made on secure unit site

Campaigners in Paisley are against the site being used

Dykebar Hospital in Paisley has been chosen as the site for the secure care centre for the west of Scotland.

Action groups fought vigorous campaigns in Paisley and the other two sites in Bothwell and Uddingston in Lanarkshire.

The centre will house mentally ill patients who require a greater level of security than those in conventional psychiatric hospitals.

The chairman of the committee which made the decision said he was confident the public's fears would be allayed.

Campaigners have claimed that the selection process has been unfair and that they were not been properly informed or consulted.

There are many such centres around the UK and already four in Scotland George Irving Secure Care Centre steering group

Paisley and Barrhead Community Action Group spokeswoman Liz Somerville said: "We are disappointed at the way Dykebar was chosen.

"From the very start it was based on inaccurate and irrelevant information."

Their stance had been supported by Deputy Justice Minister Hugh Henry, the Labour MSP for Paisley South.

He called for fresh consultation, saying the initial process had been "seriously flawed".

The four health boards affected set up a steering group to choose the west of Scotland location.

Community concerns

However, Mr Henry said this body had not been elected and was not accountable to anyone.

But the West of Scotland Secure Care Centre steering group defended its actions and said it believed that the process had been "open, transparent and inclusive".

The facility will contain 36 secure beds

Committee chairman Professor George Irving said: "I'm a member of the public also and I share the concerns and fears that many members of the public have expressed throughout this exercise, understandable concerns.

"But the experience elsewhere, and there are many such centres around the UK and already four in Scotland, (is) that when they are there and established and providing a service to patients, families and communities, these fears are very quickly allayed."

Dykebar Hospital opened in 1909 as the Renfrew District Lunatic Asylum and is currently a psychiatric hospital.

A spokesman at Argyll and Clyde NHS Trust confirmed that Dykebar had been chosen. It is not yet known when the 36-bed unit will open.