The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Fears for 80 jobs as pool to remain closed for a year
Flood-damaged Perth Leisure Pool is expected to be closed until September next year, putting nearly 80 jobs at risk.
Live Active Leisure (LAL), who run the pool, have been told the extensive repair work needed to fix the centre will take around 12 months following the storms on August 12.
Paul Cromwell, CEO of LAL, acknowledged the announcement would come as a “massive blow” to staff members and the public.
“We are devastated that this news comes at a time when we would be able to start reopening the venue after the lockdown and impact of Covid-19,” said Mr Cromwell.
“We know how valued Perth Leisure Pool is by our customers and that this will come as a massive blow to many.
“It is also an incredibly anxious time for our highly skilled and loyal team of nearly 80 staff, who are based at Perth Leisure Pool, and we will keep them fully updated on the options that we are investigating with Perth and Kinross Council.”
Local authority leader Karen Reid said: “Not being able to reopen Perth Leisure Pool is incredibly disappointing and will have an impact on our schools’ ‘ learn to swim’ programme, on local sports clubs and on the wider health and wellbeing of our communities.
“We will be working urgently with LAL to look at everything possible that we can collectively deliver while the work is ongoing.”
The lengthy closure has also brought into focus the delay in the PH20 project, which has been hit by funding cuts since 2018.
The delays to the new pool and sports complex sparked a row during a council capital budget meeting this month, when the Conservative administration refused an SNP amendment that would “require” officers to “urgently seek” funding options.
The refusal to accept their amendment led the SNP to question the administration’ s commitment to the project.
Grant Laing, leader of Perth and Kinross SNP group, called the 12-month setback a “tragedy” for Perth.
He said: “T he worst part of it this is that we’re still not further forward with this administration in bringing PH20 to a reality.
“The SNP are totally committed to PH20 and it is a number one priority for us.”
SNP MP Pete Wishart said: “We know how important physical activity is for people’s physical and mental health and having this closure hanging over us till the later part of next year strengthens the calls for Per th and Kinross Council to get things moving immediately with the PH20 project.”
Speaking at this month’s meeting, Conservative council leader Murray Lyle insisted PH20 was still a priority for his administration.