Just over 60 per cent of people who took part in a public consultation would support Perth’s Bell’s Sports Centre being used as an unheated sports venue.
Last August Live Active Leisure withdrew its leisure services from Bell’s Sports Centre and moved its gym and fitness studios to Dewars Centre.
In April 2024, shortly prior to its closure, Historic Environment Scotland listed the sports arena – including the dome, changing rooms and offices – as category B.
The 1968 dome – the only one of its kind in Scotland – was deemed to be of “special architectural or historic interest”.
Perth and Kinross Council held an online consultation from November 11, 2024, to January 17, 2025 seeking the public’s views on what the future use of the listed building should be.
The public was asked: how important it was that a future use be found for Bell’s Sports Centre; how regularly they used leisure facilities in Perth and Kinross; whether they agreed with proposals to turn it into an unheated event space/multi-use sports pitch venue and what facilities people thought should be included in such a centre (toilets, changing rooms, café etc).
This week elected members were briefed on the outcome of the consultation.
A total of 1,981 people responded to the consultation with 52 per cent saying they use leisure facilities weekly – almost 10 per cent on a daily basis.
The vast majority – 77 per cent – said they think it is “very important” Bell’s Sports Centre continues to support public activities and 15 per cent rated it as “important”.
A total of 60.47 per cent agreed Bell’s should be converted into an unheated event for space for indoor sports pitches but 39.53 per cent disagreed.
An overwhelming majority of 91 per cent said public toilets should be included in the facility – which sits on the edge of Perth’s North Inch – with 90 per cent supporting changing rooms. And 71 per cent would like to see a café included.
The decision to close Bell’s was taken due to financial pressures and repeated flooding of the venue.
In September 2024 Perth and Kinross councillors voted to build a new £61 million leisure facility on Thimblerow Car Park. The energy-efficient facility would replace both Bell’s Sports Centre and Perth Leisure Pool and include 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.
Council officers will now analyse the feedback, comments and suggestions made by members of the public about Bell’s Sports Centre. A report will then be drawn up and go before councillors to make a decision on the future use of Bell’s.