Perth and Kinross: Libraries & PH2O petitions
Campaigners to present petitions to councillors at budget meeting
Last updated 20th Feb 2025
Campaigners – who want to save libraries from closure and a more ambitious Perth leisure centre than the current PH2O proposal – will present their petitions at next week’s budget meeting.
Elected members will meet to set Perth and Kinross Council’s 2025/26 budget on Wednesday, February 26.
The meeting will start at the earlier time of 0930 to allow petitions from two different campaigns to be heard.
For the past few months campaigners have been fighting to reverse proposals to close five rural libraries. Over 5000 signatures were collected on petitions set up in Alyth, Auchterarder, Birnam, Comrie and Scone. The affected communities came together to form a single campaign group called Save Our Rural Libraries.
Library campaigners have held a series of protests and met with local politicians. And having already secured the support of Mid Scotland and Fife Green MSP Mark Ruskell and Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser, they this month enlisted the support of First Minister and Perthshire North MSP John Swinney.
Campaigners will present the collective petitions to councillors next Wednesday as they meet to make a final decision on the funding allocation for Culture Perth and Kinross, which operates Perth and Kinross libraries on the council’s behalf.
Perth and Kinross Council – which is led by the SNP – will also be presented with a petition urging Perth and Kinross Council to “build an ambitious PH2O”.
In September 2024 Perth and Kinross councillors voted to build the long-awaited PH2O leisure centre on Perth’s Thimblerow Car Park. The facility will replace Perth Leisure Pool and the now closed Bell’s Sports Centre. The plan is to demolish Perth Leisure Pool and have affordable housing built on the Glover Street site, upon completion of PH2O.
However the “watered down” £61 million energy-efficient proposal has been strongly criticised. It no longer includes an ice rink or a purpose-built leisure pool with waves and flumes, which were previously part of the plans when first touted over 10 years ago.
The proposal – voted through by councillors – would feature an eight-lane 25m pool, 12.5m x 8.5m teaching pool (both with movable floors), an indoor play area, games hall, gym, studios and café. Council officers have been tasked with exploring the costs of including ‘leisure water’ options, such as waves, a lazy river and flumes.
Former Live Active Leisure employee Bobby Brian launched a petition on September 6 on change.org following the council decision. He believes the proposal is “woefully short-sighted” and “lacks the ambition necessary for Perth’s future”.
Bobby said: “Perth Leisure Pool has been much more than just a pool; it has served as a vital community hub, enriching lives both locally and nationally while driving footfall to local businesses. For over 30 years, it has provided recreational opportunities as well as economic benefits for the city.
“The new facility fails to include the key features needed to attract visitors, potentially leading to a significant drop in foot traffic and a negative impact on the city’s vibrancy and economy. Over 70 per cent of leisure centres in the UK are reported to contribute to their local economies, with visitors spending in nearby businesses. The UK leisure industry as a whole generates over £200 billion in revenue and wider economic benefits.”
The petition currently has 2407 signatures.
Concern has also been raised over the proposal to build PH2O on one of Perth’s busiest car parks. Conservative councillors are opposed to the plans.
Earlier this year Perth City South councillor Andy Chan said: “Losing the Thimblerow Car Park to accommodate the new pool would significantly impact businesses and the already struggling High Street, further emphasising the need for a more strategic approach to site selection.”
A briefing note issued to councillors this month on car park occupancy, listed Thimblerow Car Park as one of Perth’s fullest car parks on a Saturday. It comes after reports of motorists struggling to find a space in the car park at Christmas.
PKC’s Transportation and Development team commissioned consultants Systra to look at parking in Perth. Parking surveys were carried out on Saturday, September 28, 2024 and Thursday, October 3, 2024.
Thimblerow has 200 spaces and Perth Leisure Pool area has 365 spaces. On the surveys, Thimblerow was filled at a maximum of 37 per cent midweek and 87 per cent on a Saturday. Perth Leisure Pool had a maximum of 36 per cent occupancy midweek and 46 per cent on a Saturday.
Having analysed the data of all available spaces the council believes there would still be capacity within Perth to accommodate vehicles elsewhere.
The briefing issued to councillors stated: “Removing the capacity of Thimblerow and Perth Leisure Pool car parks (but with the same assumed demand) would result in a maximum occupancy rate of 61 per cent on both weekdays and Saturdays.”
Councillors will meet to set Perth and Kinross Council’s 2025/26 budget on Wednesday, February 26.
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