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The Courier
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Courier
No health impact assessments done for Perth Thimblerow leisure centre plans
No research has been done on how the reduction in leisure facilities at a new PH2O Thimblerow will impact health and wellbeing in the city. The controversial plans to build a new sports centre without a dedicated leisure pool has been met with near-universal backlash from residents and sports clubs alike. The revelation comes nine months after Perth and Kinross Council chief executive Thomas Glen was probed on the same issue, but still no assessments have been carried out. The council boss was questioned by Independent councillor Colin Stewart at the time. Mr Stewart asked: 'If we reduce the overall sport offering in Perth and Kinross, what assessment have you made of how that aligns with the corporate objective of improving people's health and wellbeing?' In response, Mr Glen said no such assessments had been carried out. 'We haven't done an assessment specifically round around any individual sport, round about the health impacts, we haven't done it for ice, we haven't done it for swimming, we haven't done it for any other sport,' said the chief executive. The latest revelation is the latest in a series of concerns about the lack of studies and consultations carried out by either the council or Live Active Leisure (LAL) in regards to the new leisure plans. The Courier revealed that LAL failed to carry out any consultation in their Equality and Fairness Impact Assessment (EIFA) regarding their plans to remove the gym from Bell's Sports Centre. Leisure bosses also appear to have ignored advice from their own independent consultants to hold a public consultation on the plans. World champion curlers claim their community was 'sidelined' by council officers in talks over the future of the Dewars Centre when they questioned the local authority's usage figures. In February, The Courier revealed that Perth and Kinross Council failed to consult with the board of Live Active Leisure on the plans for Thimblerow. Campaigners have also accused the local authority of conducting a 'misleading' consultation on plans to turn Bell's Sports Centre into an unheated arena with artificial pitches. The future of Perth's leisure facilities is set to go back before councillors again on June 18. The council want to build a watered-down vision of PH2O, incorporating Bell's Sports Centre, and turn the North Inch facility into an unheated arena with artificial pitches. Perth and Kinross Community Sports Network (PKCSN), who represent a dozen sports in the area, are furious at the proposal. Campaigners, including the curlers, swim clubs and former LAL board members, have heavily criticised the plans. The local authority said its Leisure Asset Review – submitted in January 2024, months before the chief executive's comments – looked at all available leisure facilities across Perth and Kinross. 'This includes school halls available for rent which, together with the six-court hall to be included in PH20, will provide adequate and additional space for indoor sport and leisure,' said a council spokesperson. 'We will be introducing a consolidated booking system to make it easier for groups to access these facilities. 'Councillors approved plans to create Thimblerow in September 2024 and will be presented with proposals for additional leisure water options, as they requested, later this month.'
The Courier
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Fair City Rollers slam 'shameful' unheated plan for Bell's Sports Centre in Perth
Perth's roller derby team has slammed proposals to turn Bell's Sports Centre into an unheated facility as 'shameful'. Fair City Rollers are demanding the iconic complex is reopened after its closure from flooding severely impacted their club. A spokesperson for the club said: 'We think that Bell's Sports Centre should be rebuilt as a venue that fully supports its former patrons – not just activities and sports suited to astroturf. 'There is nothing in Perth and Kinross that has the same facilities that Bell's had. 'The alternative venues don't have the same capacity and quality. 'To lose such a sports asset is shameful. 'The value it brings to the community completely outweighs the cost to repair the damage caused by flooding.' The club say the effect of closing Bell's after it was flooded has been devastating for the team. They were left unable to train for months and have seen their club shrink substantially. The team claim the alternative venues they have found at Perth Grammar School and Perth High School have come with issues. 'Before Bell's was closed due to flooding, we were a thriving club with nearly 50 members,' said the spokesperson. 'After Bell's was flooded we were unable to train for nearly four months due to the difficulty finding a suitable hall in Perth that allowed skating. 'Due to the length of time that we were unable to train and without access to Bell's large and well maintained floor space, we have been reduced to fewer than 10 regular attendees. 'This is making it very difficult for us to continue as a club.' Fair City Rollers has joined a growing number of voices from Perth's sports community calling for Bell's to be returned to its former glory as an indoor sports complex. A petition to save the venue has reached over 3,700 signatures. The council propose turning it into an unheated arena with artificial pitches. The future of the facility touches on the wider plans for a new leisure centre which has been near-universally criticised by residents and sports teams alike. The spokesperson said: 'Our situation, alongside the general negative effects to other sports that were based at Bell's, highlights the critical need for a versatile, accessible space that serves the diverse sporting community Bell's once supported. 'This need can only be met by repairing and reopening Bell's as soon as possible.' The club also pointed to their inclusive nature as a benefit they bring to the city's sporting community. Perth and Kinross Council chief executive Thomas Glen has been questioned on how the proposed unheated facility will impact the elderly, women and players with disabilities. It's the second time that equality concerns have been raised in 12 months regarding the council and Live Active Leisure and their leisure plans. 'Roller Derby is an inclusive sport, welcoming individuals of all backgrounds and abilities,' said the club spokesperson. 'Our club actively encourages people to return to sport later in life, with most of our members aged between 30 and 55.' 'Perth and Kinross Council should be fighting for the future of Bell's not allowing this amazing asset to be lost.' The plan, alongside the PH2O project, is set to come back before councillors in June. A council spokesperson said: 'Almost 2,000 people responded to the consultation on the future of Bell's Sports Centre. 'A summary of responses has been provided to councillors and will be used to inform our proposals for the sports centre when they are presented to council in June.'
