Worry as leisure hub isn’t covered in budget

A Perth and Kinross councillor expressed concern over the lack of provision for the PH20 project in PKC’s forthcoming capital budget.

In 2014 plans were announced for a brand new pool and ice rink and sports hub for the Fair City.

But seven years on and the plans appear to be no further forward.

The much-anticipated project was planned to include additional training pool provision, state of the art gym and fitness studios, an ice rink, health suite and an external adventure play zone.

At a meeting of Perth and Kinross Council in September 2020, SNP councillors called for funding options for the project to be sought “urgently”.

But councillors voted in support of a Conservative motion.

It asked council officers to identify commercial or other income streams and possible funding solutions to enable the project to be considered as part of the 2021/22 capital budget process.

At Wednesday’s (January 27) meeting of PKC Perth City South SNP councillor Sheila McCole asked why there was no provision for the project in the 2021/22 capital budget.

Chief operating officer Karen Donaldson said: “Work is ongoing - at least in terms of looking for funding solutions for PH20.

“There’s not anything I could share in a public forum at this stage.”

She added: “We hope to be able to bring something forward in due course to councillors - at the earliest opportunity.”