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The Courier
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The Courier
Protests to be held in Perth against council's Thimblerow leisure centre plans
Protests against the local authority's plans to build a new leisure centre at Thimblerow car park are to be held in Perth. Campaigners will stage two rallies over two weeks against the widely unpopular proposals for PH2O and Bell's Sports Centre. The first protest is to be held outside Perth Leisure Pool and Dewars Centre on Glover Street at 10am on Thursday June 12. The second will take place at 9am on Wednesday June 18 outside the local authority's offices. Campaigners are staging that second rally before the 10am meeting to be held in the council chambers at 2 High Street that will decide the future of both facilities. The protest are expected to be attended by campaigners from across Perth's sporting landscape, including indoor sports and curling. Residents, clubs and swimmers have been left furious at the local authority's plans to build a watered-down facility at Thimblerow without a dedicated leisure pool. The council also hope to turn Bell's Sports Centre into an unheated arena with artificial pitches – although no final decision has been taken. Perth and Kinross Community Sports Network (PKCSN), who are against the plans, want people to join the protests. Nearly 3,800 people have signed a petition to save Bell's. Bill Powrie, a spokesperson for the group, said: 'It would appear that the council has made up its mind to close Bell's for indoor sports and other community activities and has decided to knock down the leisure pool at [Glover Street] and replace it with 147 affordable homes. 'Then build a sports facility on the busiest car park in Perth and build a new swimming pool with no leisure swimming. 'Given that Bell's has 22 courts, this plan represents a watering down of sport and leisure facilities for the community. 'Please come along and show your support for our collective campaign and let council know that this plan is not wanted by the people of Perth and Kinross.' The local authority and Live Active Leisure (LAL) have come in for widespread criticism for both the plans and the way they have been handled. Concerns have been raised over a lack of studies and consultation on the ideas. The Courier has been campaigning to Protect Perth Leisure and Say No to Thimblerow. The plans for the future of Perth's leisure facilities will go before councillors again on June 18. A spokesperson for the local authority said: 'Councillors approved plans to create Thimblerow in September 2024 and will decide on proposals for additional leisure water next week. 'These were determined by the results of our Transformation Review of Leisure Assets, which considered the most popular areas of participation and how we can provide accessible, affordable and sustainable leisure provision for residents across all of Perth and Kinross. 'Council also, in line with agreed policy to prioritise affordable housing when disposing of land or buildings, agreed to build affordable homes on the Glover Street site once PH20 is complete.' They said that options for Bell's are still being considered following the public consultation.
The Courier
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Bell's Sports Centre poll results reveal hundreds of Courier readers back heated indoor facility for Perth
Hundreds of Courier readers have voted in favour of reopening Bell's Sports Centre in Perth as a fully heated facility for indoor sports. More than 90% of people who took part in the poll backed this option. The future of the popular North Inch complex has been the cause of much public anger in recent months with the local authority proposing the centre be turned into an unheated arena with artificial pitches. Perth and Kinross Community Sports Network (PKCSN), who represent twelve sporting groups in the area, want the facility reopened as a multi-use indoor sports hall. They have the backing of at least nine national sporting bodies and more than 3,750 people who have signed a petition. The campaigners called Perth and Kinross Council's public consultation on Bell's 'misleading' and raised equality concerns over the proposals. Around 2,000 people responded to the council's consultation with 60% of people voting for an unheated future. However, campaigners argue that the survey was flawed as the local authority did not give an option for Bell's to be reopened as a heated indoor facility. The Courier gave our readers that choice. And the result for the latest survey was a landslide. As can be seen in the graph, 303 respondents (91.27%) voted in favour of reopening Bell's Sports Centre as a heated indoor facility. Only 29 people (8.73%) were against the idea. The Courier made clear in our accompanying debate article the choice between heated and unheated. As well as voting on our poll, readers also left comments on what they wanted for Bell's. Every response bar one was in favour of a heated indoor facility. Louise said: 'It absolutely should be reopened to a heated venue. 'It was a fantastic building and was very much used by the local community and is sorely missed. 'Kids will now be missing out on so many sports because schools can't use the facilities like they once did. 'The council should be ashamed that they made everyone believe the option was closure or an unheated venue.' Posting as Wroebots, a reader said: 'The sports centre should most certainly be reinstated to its full functionality. 'We were playing badminton on a weekly basis, if not at Bell's, then at the campus. 'Now, as people book for the following week on the day they play, it's impossible to get a court in Perth. 'The multitude of team sports and two player sports the centre offered (beyond football) should be readily available to the city.' The future of Bell's, along with the much-maligned PH2O proposal for Thimblerow, is set to go before council again next month. A spokesperson for the local authority said: 'We have met with the Perth and Kinross Community Sports Network and their proposals will be considered as part of our response to the consultation. 'Our plans for Bell's and the new PH20 facility, will, alongside our school estate, cater for sports such as badminton. 'These plans are also informed by the findings of our Leisure Assets Review, which looked at demand and usage across all our facilities in Perth and Kinross, and the available capital budget.'
