Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative MSP and Shadow Minister for Sport has written to all bowling clubs across Perthshire and Kinross-shire to gauge support for the potential development of a year round indoor bowling facility for the area.
At present there is no such year round indoor facility in Perth & Kinross meaning limited practice and competition over the winter months. Indoor bowls facility currently exist inForfar, Fraserburgh, and Turriff all with populations a quarter of the size of Perth.
The Mid Scotland & Fife MSP has contacted Perth & Kinross Council to enquire about the potential to develop an indoor facility in the local area and has raise the future development of the sport with the Scottish Government.
At the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last year Scotland’s men’s team won three gold medals. For the first time the bowls team was an integrated team and included the para triples team and the visual impaired pairs. The Scottish pairs team won a silver medal. Whist the Scottish ladies team didn’t win a medal, they did achieve the top 8 finish that was also a target for Scottish sports at the games.
Liz Smith Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland & Fife and Shadow Minister for Sport said:
“Lawn bowls is a popular sport across Perthshire and Kinross-shire with 36 bowling clubs.
“At present there is no all year round indoor facility in Perth & Kinross meaning limited practice and competition space over the winter months. Year round indoor bowls facility currently exist inForfar, Fraserburgh, and Turriff all with populations a quarter of the size of Perth.
“The success the Scottish lawn bowls team enjoyed by Scotland at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games has also provided an opportunity to encourage a future generation to take up the sport and an all year round facility would help to achieve this.
“During the winter months many bowls players are able to practice locally. I am interested to gauge support for the potential development of a year round indoor bowling facility for the area and so will be undertaking a survey of all local bowling clubs across Perthshire and Kinross-shire.”