New centre costs scrutinised at sports hub meeting
Concerns about the amount of money being invested in Blairgowrie over other areas in east Perthshire were raised at the most recent meeting of the Eastern Perthshire Community Sports Hub (EPCSH).
John Palfreyman of Forward Coupar Angus raised the issue at the meeting in Blairgowrie Community Campus during discussions surrounding the proposed new £18 million recreation centre in the east Perthshire capital.
He said:“These points have been made at Coupar Angus and Bendochy Community Council meetings.
“We are very disappointed that Perth and Kinross Council have taken the decision to build a £17.7 million centre in Blairgowrie without any discussion with other areas as to whether it suits them.
“No thought seems to have been given to distributing the facilities and investment throughout the area rather than concentrating it all in one town.
“The suggestion is that it is a facility for the pupils of the school but it should be remembered that they don’t spend all their time in Blairgowrie.”
He went on to say:“We would hope that PKC would consider investment in transport to the centre and wonder if any thought has been given to access to it.
“If all access to the centre is to be by car then that will result in an increase in the carbon footprint of the area which is in contradiction to stated Scottish Government aims to reduce the country’s carbon footprint.
“We would also like to know if PKC has modelled the effect of the centre on the relatively affluent town of Blairgowrie compared with other areas such as Alyth, Coupar Angus and Rattray.”
However, the council stressed that the centre provided facilities for the high school and as such should be located in Blairgowrie.
In a statement, a spokesperson for PKC said: “The new recreation centre being proposed would see a major capital investment of £17.7m by the council to directly benefit the eastern Perthshire area.
“The current Blairgowrie Recreation Centre provides PE facilities for Blairgowrie High School as well as leisure and recreation provision for the community.
“Given its role for the school, the new recreation centre should, therefore, be located on the school site.”
“Blairgowrie and Rattray are the main population centres in eastern Perthshire, and as a consequence a facility based in Blairgowrie should be accessible not only by car but also on foot and by bike or public transport.
“The council, in partnership with sportScotland and Live Active Leisure, carried out a leisure needs analysis in 2012 to assess requirements for provision around Perth and Kinross.
“And this analysis was the subject of wide public engagement.”
The statement concluded:“While we would acknowledge this comment made at the recent community sports hub meeting, the meeting was overall very positive, and consultation with the local community is planned for the new facility at Blairgowrie.”