Perth Leisure Pool and Dewars Centre will remain open for another year
The decision came following a Live Action Leisure board meeting yesterday evening
After petitions garnering thousands of signatures, Perth Leisure Pool and Dewars Centre are set to remain open until the end of March 2024.
The decision was made following a board meeting of the facilities operator, Live Action Leisure, at 5pm on the 16th March 2023.
An increase of 10-15% will be introduced for most activities, however, concession prices will be frozen.
Tay FM heard from Scottish Swimming and local parents who shared their fears of what a closure could mean to them.
Live Action Leisure Chairman, David Maclehose, is urging the public to use the facilities saying: "We need your support now more than ever."
David Maclehose said: “This year Live Active Leisure is faced with the most complex range of challenges it has ever faced in over 50 years as a company. Ageing assets, high and rising inflation, high demand for and increasing cost of energy, the impact of long-term public finance constraints, reduced customer income post-COVID and the cost of living crisis.
“Dealing with these issues individually would be challenging enough, collectively they represent unprecedented pressures and uncertainty. A picture which is replicated throughout the UK in organisations such as ours, dealing with the same issues.
“Customer generated income is vital to organisations like Live Active Leisure to remain viable and sustainable. Whilst I appreciate these are difficult times, we need your support more than ever, and therefore I would urge anyone who values the provision of our public leisure services to please use your local venue as often as you can.
"Not only is this an investment in yourself and your own physical and mental wellbeing, but it’s an investment in your community as every penny spent in one of our venues is reinvested back into the company.”
He added: “The company look forward to engaging positively and proactively with the council and our communities on this review and to further discussions on the PH2O project to ensure that the best possible physical activity and sports services are delivered across Perth and Kinross within the resources we have available.”
Live Active Leisure board member Conservative councillor Bob Brawn said: “Following a lengthy board meeting which recognised the importance of both Perth Leisure Pool and the Dewars Centre to the people of Perth and surrounding areas, the decision has been made to set a one-year budget and use part of the limited available reserves to ensure that both of these venues remain open for the coming financial year.
“During this year’s council budget, the Scottish Conservative amendment proposed allocating sufficient funds to Live Active Leisure which would have avoided the need to draw on reserves.”
SNP MP for Perth and North Perthshire Pete Wishart said in reaction to the news: “It is fantastic news that Perth Leisure Pool and Dewar’s Centre will remain open following a successful agreement being reached between Perth and Kinross Council and Live Active Leisure.
"Better still, this agreement has been reached without the council forking out several hundreds of thousands of pounds, as the Conservatives insisted on.
“This is yet another display of the effective governance of the SNP administration, which is sustaining our vital facilities at a time of huge financial instability.”
Deputy First Minister and MSP for Perthshire North John Swinney said: “I am pleased that, following a period of uncertainty, it has been confirmed that Perth Leisure Pool and Dewars Centre will remain open.
"It is essential that people staying in Perth and the surrounding areas have convenient access to leisure facilities. To that end, I am sure that this news will be welcomed by all.
“This is a victory for the SNP council administration, who have worked closely with Live Active Leisure to secure this positive outcome.
"Following years of mismanagement and chaotic in-fighting from the prior Tory administration, it is pleasing to have in place local leadership that is getting on with the job of making people’s lives better and protecting local services.”
Jim Fairlie, SNP MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire added: “I am absolutely delighted that Perth Leisure Pool has been given a reprieve. It provides many Perthshire kids with their first experience of swimming and is vital for the wellbeing of residents across Perth and Kinross.
“The Tory claims of a bonanza ‘Swimming Fund’ have been unfortunate, given that the Barnett consequential would see each of the five LAL pools in Perth and Kinross with an estimated measly £34k – a drop in the ocean in the current context.
“Thanks to the good financial management of Perth and Kinross Council from the SNP group, it is reassuring that discussions between Live Active Leisure and PKC have been fruitful.”
Last week Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser alongside colleague, Liz Smith, wrote to Councillor Grant Laing, Leader of Perth and Kinross Council, to clarify the future of the facilities.
In reaction to the news the MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife said: "Even though this is good news in the short term, there are still very real serious questions about the long term viability of both the pool and Dewars rinks.
"The annual running deficit is currently over £600,000 and they can only be kept open for another year by Live Active Leisure dipping into their reserves. It's quite clear that this is not sustainable in the longer run and all we've done is kick the can down the road unless some more secure sources of funding can be found for these vital facilities here in Perth."