The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Reassurance for bowlers over £25m PH2O centre
THE ORGANISATION behind a planned £25 million sports centre for Perth insists that it values the sport of bowling, following concerns that it may not be included in the new development.
As revealed in The Courier last week, Live Active Leisure is proposing to build a state-of-the-art sports facility, named PH2O, which will provide 20 sports on the site of the present Perth Leisure Pool.
The building will be completely redeveloped and refurbished, with a new swimming pool and ice rink and its hoped the new facility will attract around 250,000 visitors each year, bringing around £2.5 million into the local economy.
However, several indoor bowlers have contacted The Courier since the PH20 announcement to express their anxieties about the future of the sport once the new centre is complete.
Gerald Green, of Bridge of Earn, said he had heard various rumours, one being that plans were afoot to take away two lanes at the present indoor bowling site in the Dewars Centre, Perth.
“I had heard that, of our eight lanes, two were going to be taken away,” he said.
“I have looked at the website for the new Perth sports centre but couldn’t see anything about indoor bowling.
“It’s very popular — I know a man who sometimes plays two to three times a day at the Dewars Centre.”
Eric Lewis added: “As a retired resident of Perth, who has always been interested in sport, I have no hesitation in saying that the current indoor bowling facilities have been near the top of reasons why I have had such an enjoyable retirement.
“The senior league played in the mornings has been a great success in getting the older generation going in the mornings, no matter what the weather.
“To lose such a facility would be devastating to all those who currently enjoy their bowling at Dewars.
“Live Active Leisure are continually stating that one of their most important remits is to actively promote a healthy lifestyle for all residents of the district.”
He continued: “Scotland is currently producing a crop of very good young international players and it would be nice if the Perth area could do the same,” he went on.
“We should be using any new future facilities to actively promote bowls in our youth clubs and schools.
“I hope, therefore, that I am mistaken and that there will be a new indoor bowling facility incorporated in the new sports centre.”
A spokesperson for Live Active Leisure said that both it and Perth and Kinross Council shared the belief that bowling provision is a “valued service” within the community.
“Although the current proposals for PH2O do not include provision on this site, we are jointly continuing to explore the most effective and appropriate form of provision.”