Scottish Conservatives have urged Perth and Kinross Council to ditch their “seriously flawed” plan to build a sports centre at Thimblerow, Perth, and instead back the move to keep Bell’s Sports Centre.
Mid Scotland and Fife MSPs Murdo Fraser, Liz Smith, Roz McCall and Alexander Stewart all support the proposal to use the Bell’s Sports Centre as a multi-use indoor sports hall. A Business Plan put together by Perth and Kinross Community Sports Network (PKCSN) has the approval of all three politicians.
PKCSN believe this plan would retain the legacy of AK (Arthur Kinmond) Bell, who was one of Scotland’s leading philanthropists. The group also feel that the Council plan to build the PH2O Thimblerow sports complex is not ‘fit for purpose.’
Commenting, Mr Fraser said: “We are all urging the Council to see common sense here and ditch their plan to build a new sports centre at Thimblerow. This plan is full of flaws – it will not have an ice rink, it will not have a separate leisure pool and it will not have car parking provision on site. The Council have to realise that they are short-changing the residents of Perth and Kinross by having them pay record levels of Council Tax, while at the same time, reducing local services and sports and leisure provision.
“It is important to keep Bell’s Sports Centre as an indoor facility. There was a petition to do this and it garnered great support, and this was mirrored by a recent poll carried out by a local newspaper which found that 90% of respondents favoured this option. “
And Liz Smith added: “In my role as Convenor of the Cross-Party Group on Sport at the Scottish Parliament, as well as my responsibilities as an MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, I have received numerous submissions from local sporting bodies gravely concerned about plans to abandon Bell’s. It is seen as an extremely important local asset which the majority of local constituents want to see retained.
“There is strong concern that the business plan for Thimblerow is seriously flawed and that the proposed development would not, in any way, be a suitable replacement for Bell’s which is why l hope Councillors will make the right decision on Wednesday.”
Roz McCall said: “The PH2O Thimblerow plan was never a viable option for future sports provision – it is an inadequate plan, which would not meet the needs of local residents or local sports clubs in the area. The alternative plan to keep the use of Bell’s Sports Centre makes perfect sense.
“I fully support the plan to have a refurbished Bell’s Sports Centre, which PKCSN have said would be built to a high standard and would create a sustainable and ‘vibrant’ sports centre which would serve local residents and the wider sporting community.”
And Alexander Stewart commented: “The council’s PH2O plan is riddled with flaws and should be consigned to the bin. We are asking the council to seriously consider the proposal to keep using Bell’s for future sports provision – it makes sense.”
The politicians were commenting ahead of a Council meeting being held on June 18, when the issue will be discussed.
