Scottish Conservative politicians have welcomed a U-turn from the Leader of Perth and Kinross Council who has announced the local authority will now retain an ice rink in Perth in their PH2O plan.
This follows pressure from local residents, the Scottish Conservatives and former Olympic gold medallist, Perth-born Eve Muirhead.
The council still want to push ahead with their proposal to close Dewars ice rink, Perth Leisure Pool and the Bell’s Sports Centre to make way for a new sports centre to be built in Perth. Their original plan did not include an ice rink and this led to a massive backlash, with Murdo Fraser and Liz Smith sending a joint letter to the Leader of Perth and Kinross Council, Councillor Grant Laing, to express their concerns about the implications of this move.
However, Councillor Laing has announced he has asked Council officers to prepare a report looking at retaining ice facilities within the PH2O project, the proposed new single-site sports centre in Perth.
Commenting, Councillor John Duff, Leader of the Scottish Conservative group in Perth and Kinross, commented: “The proposal to exclude an ice rink from the Council’s future leisure facilities has caused considerable outrage among curlers and a large number of people across Perth and Kinross and indeed, Scotland. Pressure from curlers and opposition groups have forced the SNP into a highly embarrassing U-turn over the future of curling at Perth.
“The Scottish Conservatives recognise the importance of curling as a national sport and were prepared to amend the proposals on January 22. The Leader’s volte-face statement comes in the face of certain defeat on Monday at the Council meeting had it gone to the vote.”
And Murdo Fraser MSP added: "This is a very welcome U-turn from the SNP leadership on Perth and Kinross Council, following substantial opposition from the public and the Scottish Conservatives. Just a pity that so much avoidable distress was caused by the original plan. And it still means the Council still intend on closing Dewars ice rink, thus ending a long, historic legacy with curling at that site.
“The Council will need to ensure that the new ice rink they plan to build as part of the PH2O project is on a par with the one at Dewars ice rink.”
And Liz Smith MSP commented: “I’m glad and very relieved to hear that Perth and Kinross Council have seen common sense and made this screeching U-turn to now include ice provision in their plan for the new sports facility in Perth. They must have taken note of the massive opposition, including a letter from Mr Fraser and myself, to their original plan not to include an ice rink, which would have been a bitter blow for the curling community in Perth and across Scotland, as well as letting down youngsters who want to take up curling.
“It will be a very sad day if the Council proceed with their plan to close Dewars ice rink but at least they have now promised to include the facility in their PH20 plan.”
