The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Plans submitted for new indoor bowling arena at the North Inch
Plans for a £750,000 indoor bowling arena that could save the sport in Perth have entered the latest phase.
North Inch Bowling Club, the Petanque Club and Perth Bowling Club joined forces in 2014 in a bid to have the state-of-the-art facility built after securing £100,000 initial funding from Perth and Kinross Council.
Plans have now been submitted to the local authority that show how the new facility would look.
The arena will be an extension of the current clubhouse, marking the most significant change to the building since the thatch roof was replaced with slate in 1966.
The new section of the building, which is larger than the original clubhouse, will be built to the west, towards the bowling green on the opposite side from the North Inch.
It could be used to host indoor games, as well as seminars and other functions.
A ladies’ toilet will replace an existing office, which will be moved into the space currently occupied by the entrance porch.
The idea to amalgamate the clubs and expand the building was first put forward in 2014, with then councillor Archie Maclellan saying it would be a welcome addition to the area.
He said: “I have been working on this from around the time we received funding from the council (in 2012) to improve the premises at the North Inch Bowling Club.
“The money from the council allowed work to be done on the bowling green and its pavilion.”
“It moved on from there with Perth Bowling Club, the North Inch Bowling Club and the Petanque Club all working informally together on this plan.”