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.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Courier
12-06-2025
- The Courier
Dundee golfers could launch bid to reopen Caird Park courses
A group of Dundee golfers could launch a bid to reopen the Caird Park golf courses under a community ownership model. Friends of Cairdy and the Golf Course, made up of players and campaigners who want to see the courses reopened, is exploring the idea of taking the facilities over from the council. If the proposals went through and were financially viable, the courses could then be run as a not-for-profit set-up. The courses were shut down in April in a cost-cutting move by Leisure and Culture Dundee (LCD), ratified by Dundee City Council. The move was designed to save more than £400,000 a year from the LCD budget. The Courier revealed in December how a golf firm had drawn up 'exciting' plans to save the courses. However, these proposals have gone quiet, and the courses are currently being left to overgrow. Paul Johnson is a member of the campaign group and one of those pushing for golf's return to Caird Park. He told The Courier: 'We are confident we can sustain it because there were at least 1,000 season ticket holders when the courses closed. 'We would have at least 20 volunteers, and we would employ greenkeepers who were made unemployed. 'I believe there is still machinery there which can be used. 'Season ticket holders will sustain it, and once we get people playing golf on it again, it will generate money.' However, the group says it needs a breakdown of the finances associated with running the courses to assess whether a community takeover would be viable. Paul said: 'We put a Freedom of Information request into the council at least six months ago asking for the figures, but we've been told they can't give the information and they're holding us up. 'We need the council to give us that information.' Paul says the group wants to bring golf back to Caird Park by April next year. A meeting is being held among members on Thursday afternoon to discuss the proposals. They are also considering whether they could apply for any grants or funding that would help kick-start the takeover. Paul added: 'We just want it to be affordable because it's disgusting how they've treated working-class people. 'Closing the course has caused so much grief. 'I don't want it to become another Camperdown fiasco. 'It should remain a green belt for playing golf on.' In December last year, council leader Mark Flynn told The Courier he would be willing to listen to any proposals to keep golf at Caird Park. He said: 'If anyone is interested in doing something with the council and working with Caird Park to see what can be done in the future, my door is always open.' A Dundee City Council spokesperson said: 'Submissions from interested parties are currently being appraised regarding alternative leisure development of areas within the park and any recommendations would be considered at a future committee.'
The Courier
06-06-2025
- 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 National
04-06-2025
- The National
What Neil Lennon did with Wanyama after Dunfermline debut red card
The Kenyan signed for the East End Park side shortly after Lennon was appointed as boss. He made his hotly anticipated debut in a Championship clash away at Ayr United, but was sent off for deliberately handling the ball and in the process, denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Read more: "We had a chuckle about it," Lennon told The Courier. "I was going to say, we've all done that, but I never did that!" Wanyama's short-term deal with Dunfermline expired at the end of last season. Lennon, however, would ideally like to sign him up long-term. "Possibly, yeah, possibly," said the manager when asked whether Wanyama could put pen to paper once more. "I don't know yet. Once he got fit, he looked great and he played really well in the last game [vs Morton]. "If he had a good pre-season, he could be a real asset for us." The 33-year-old was recently called up to play for his country in a friendly double-header against Chad. Wanyama requested to be excused from international duty: "He's doing his coaching barges," explained Lennon. "He's actually doing them in Belfast, I think, with the IFA. "That's another one he wants to add to his resume, the coaching side of things as well. "So maybe there might be something there for him going forward."
