The grounds surrounding an abandoned north-east hospital could be in line for a new lease of life under the control of a local regeneration group.
Peterhead Area Community Trust (Pact) has launched a takeover bid of the town’s Ugie Hospital Park.
The charity is asking for the public’s opinion on plans for it to take over the lease of the old hospital grounds, though it has no designs on the building itself at present.
The area in question is owned by the town’s Community of Feuars, and the lease is currently operated by Aberdeenshire Council.
The local authority has confirmed it has no objections to giving up the park in Buchanhaven.
Should the new lease be granted, Pact will maintain the existing playing pitches and surfaces while adding changing facilities and trying to increase usage of the park.
A questionnaire has been launched to canvas opinion on the possible future uses of the site.
Ugie Hospital was built as a fever hospital and opened in 1807 with two wards, each with 14 beds, and a staff accommodation block.
It closed late last year, when patients from its only remaining ward were relocated.
Beds, patients and staff from the Ravenscraig ward were moved to Peterhead Community Hospital at the end of 2019.
The online consultation runs until Sunday, December 13. and residents are being asked to comment on the proposal online at
https://bit.ly/ugiepact
so that Pact can take local views into account.
The group is also ploughing ahead with its regeneration of Victoria Park thanks to a huge funding injection.
Long-running efforts to transform Victoria Park have been given a welcome boost thanks to a £201,495 grant from the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Fund.
That cash will help pay for phase one of the project which will involve a play park, sensory garden, picnic area and crazy golf course being added.
Pact’s vice-chairman, Graeme Mackie, said: “During lockdown, the team at Pact have engaged with and supported many of the groups in the town and built up really strong relationships within the community.
“The project will give the town a much-needed green space and provide something for everyone, no matter what age group you fall into.
“Pact are delighted to have been awarded funding and will now press ahead to make the vision a reality.”
Plans for the former Victoria Road Bowling Club site, drawn up by Mintlaw firm Baxter Design, retain the original hedged perimeter, fountain and traditional wrought iron benches.
New lighting to complement the existing traditional theme, a traditional pavilion with storage facilities, meeting room and lockers that will create the style of the old railway line station, will all be added in due course.
The group completed a refurbishment of the Barclay Park Community Pavilion in November 2019 and now operates the facility, which has a community space, kitchen, fully assessable toilets and showers, and home and away changing rooms both with toilets and showers and a large green space outside.
The organisation has recently installed 10 picnic benches for the public to use.
