A plea was made this week for PKC to overcome “financial and practical” hurdles to retain ice rink facilities in Perth.
Uncertainty surrounds ice rink provision following the approval of a new scaled back £61million PH20 sports project in September featuring an eight-lane pool, teaching pool, play area, games hall and gym.
Curling bodies have been offered the chance to run Dewars Centre for a next-to-nothing rent “including realistic timescales and milestones for their interest to achieve fruition during the construction phase of PH2O” had been incorporated during September’s council vote.
Scottish Curling chief executive Vincent Bryson said: “We are in a period of flux at the moment. Scottish Curling is looking forward to putting together a bid for ownership of the Dewars Centre in a couple of weeks subject to a feasibility study.
“There are some grants and pots of money available, but it is a huge ask.
“The site requires a significant upgrade and capital investment.
“The long-term future of ice rink provision in Perth, the home of curling, is far from certain.”
Perthshire politicians met PKC chief executive Thomas Glen and council leader Grant Laing to discuss the matter this week.
Following the meeting Perthshire Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said: “The council chiefs at the meeting talked about their main priority being to prevent poverty in the region, and I understand that point of view, but I told them they must realise the impact of losing curling for good in Perth.
“Perth is steeped in curling history and has produced top curling players, such as Olympic champion Eve Muirhead. It will be a massive and very sad loss if the council decided not to have any curling facilities in Perth.”
Mr Fraser continued: “I have discussed with Scottish Curling the future of the existing Dewars Rinks, which they are interested in taking over, but there are serious financial and practical barriers to be overcome if that is to be an option.
“I urged the council to do all they can to see if this plan could be made to work.
“The council’s recommendation not to fund an ice rink in Perth is bound to be met with dismay by many people, both in Perth and across the country.”
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said this week: “The decision regarding the integrated investment report for Perth considered at the council meeting on September 4 makes it clear that we back a future for ice in the city through a user-led facility at Dewars Centre, which we will work with curling organisations to pursue further.”