The Conservatives are calling for Perth and Kinross Council to reconsider its decision to build Perth’s replacement leisure facility PH2O on Thimblerow Car Park.
In September 2024 councillors voted to build a replacement pool and leisure centre on the city centre car park.
But Conservative councillors – who voted against the decision – argue the Glover Street site presents a “more viable and sustainable option”.
The proposal – which was voted through by 20 votes to 18 – at last year’s meeting was to pull down Perth Leisure Pool to make way for affordable housing upon completion of PH2O on the Thimblerow Car Park site.
Councillors voted for the £61 million energy-efficient facility to now feature an eight-lane 25m pool, 12.5m x 8.5m teaching pool (both with movable floors), an indoor play area, games hall, gym, studios and café. However council officers have been tasked with exploring the costs of ‘leisure water’ options, such as waves, a lazy river and flumes but it is understood including flumes would be trickier if the building is to meet Passivhaus energy standards.
The Glover Street site was the original proposed location for PH2O. However it was deemed it would be “extremely challenging” to build there due to issues with having a construction site on the car park whilst customers continued to access both Dewars Centre and Perth Leisure Pool. Building on Thimblerow was deemed “more straightforward”.
Project manager John Fyfe said: “It would be extremely challenging. You’d immediately lose most of the car parking and I don’t think any contractor would be comfortable with the amount of visitors going across the construction site. Overall, I think it would be more straightforward for the contractor to build on Thimblerow.”
At last September’s meeting, 18 Conservative, Independent and Labour councillors supported a proposal to include a separate leisure pool and potential multi-sport ice rink in PH2O, reduce the lane pool to six lanes, look at costings for including diving platforms and potentially adding four squash courts. They also proposed further exploring options to build the facility on part of the Glover Street car park whilst continuing operations at Perth Leisure Pool and Dewars Centre. They were outvoted.
This week Conservative councillor and Live Active Leisure board member Bob Brawn said: “The decision to utilise the Thimblerow Car Park as the site for the new PH2O facility has been approved through full council although there was opposition to this from other groups including the Scottish Conservatives.
“PH2O was designed to be an all-inclusive sports facility to serve Perth and surrounds, with both ice and leisure pool, for decades to come, and situated at the current location of Dewars and Perth Leisure Pool. Utilising Thimblerow lacks the ambition and vision necessary to make this a success.
“Furthermore, the Christmas period showed the necessity of the current carparking facility at Thimblerow with many queuing for a space.”
Perth City South Conservative councillor Andy Chan added: “I do not agree with the current proposals for the new build at Thimblerow. While I fully understand the need to move forward with PH2O, it is critical that the plans are carefully scrutinised and consulted upon to ensure they serve both the local community and the wider city effectively.
“I strongly believe that the Glover Street site presents a more viable and sustainable option for this development. With the right ambition and vision, this site could deliver a unique destination combining leisure water and ice facilities, attracting visitors and benefiting the community for years to come. Also the benefit of a heat exchange system between the pool and ice contributing to energy saving costs and the climate.
“During the festive period, I personally along with colleague Bailie Chris Ahern observed the difficulties in parking at Thimblerow due to high demand. Losing the Thimblerow Car Park to accommodate the new pool would significantly impact businesses and the already struggling High Street, further emphasising the need for a more strategic approach to site selection.”
Following the September 2024 decision, London-based Twentieth Century Society resubmitted its bid to Historic Environment Scotland for Perth Leisure Pool to be reconsidered for listed status.