Proposed Blairgowrie sports centre suffers potential delay

A proposed new sports centre which would serve residents in east Perthshire may not be built until 2022, it has been revealed.

Members of Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council have been told the potential delay is due to problems with the design of Blairgowrie Recreation centre.

The announcement is a blow to local sports clubs, who are eager for the project to start.

The proposed sports centre would include a 2G synthetic pitch – something which many residents feel is much needed in the town.

Sandy Thomson, chairman of Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Football Club, said residents were running out of patience.

“Where and when are we going to get our new recreation centre?” he said.

“It has been around two years since the plans to replace the centre were first announced, and all the sports clubs and the school are agreed on what is required for the community.

“But now it looks as though it won’t be finished until 2021 or 2022. This is just lurching from one meeting to another without seeming to make any actual progress.”

He said a petition asking the council to provide an allweather pitch in the town had got around 450 signatures.

A spokesman for Perth and Kinross Council said: “The strategic investment group has asked for further information on the plans for Blairgowrie Recreation Centre.

“The design and build of the new centre is likely to take up to four years to be completed.”

Several local sports clubs have also asked the council to consider looking at installing a floodlit 3G training pitch at Davie Park in Blairgowrie.