Anger over delays to work on long-awaited new leisure centre

A former councillor has weighed into a row over delays to a multi-million-pound leisure complex.

Ambitious plans for the new sports centre at Blairgowrie were first announced during Perth and Kinross Council budget talks two years ago.

It was originally hoped the new centre would be in place by 2020, following consultation led by PMR Consultancy.

However, the town’s community council has been told completion of design and construction was now more likely to be in 2021 or 2022.

Former SNP councillor Bob Ellis, who fronted a campaign to get residents involved in the consultation process, said the hold-up was unacceptable.

“It appears to me that all of the work done by PMR Consultancy and all of the dedicated sporting community in east Perthshire has been undone by the new administration at Perth and Kinross Council,” he said.

“When I was one of the councillors representing the Blairgowrie and Glens ward, I fought very hard in getting this long-awaited project brought forward from within the council’s capital budget from 2022 to 2020.

“A power of work has been done over a great length of time by PMR Consultancy, travelling throughout east Perthshire visiting schools, organisations and individuals.”

He added: “I sincerely hope that those councillors in charge have a rethink about this and bring the finish date back to its original one.”

A council spokesman said: “The strategic investment group has asked for further information on the plans for Blairgowrie Recreation Centre. The centre is likely to take up to four years to be completed.”