Bell’s Sports Centre in Perth will open its new gymnasium and fitness studios to the public next month following a £750,000 revamp.
Live Active Leisure (LAL) confirmed the facilities will be made available on July 9 after the initial planned opening date of May 22 was pushed back.
The facelift includes the installation of three fitness studios and the much-criticised transformation of the Coaching Hall into a 100-station gym.
The development will see gym equipment moved from the nearby Live Active Rodney on Dundee Road into the hall, which was formerly used for activities such as volleyball, basketball, badminton and netball.
The gymnasium plan has faced heavy criticism by local sports club representatives since it was first announced in November.
They insisted the hall’s sprung wooden floor - which has since been torn out - provided an “ideal” surface for people playing these team sports.
Perth and Kinross Volleyball chairman David Munro added that players forced to train and compete in the main arena instead would bring an increased injury risk, with added fears the change would see the city lose out on hosting major competitions, claiming teams will not want to play on a harder surface.
A petition created by Mr Munro in January reached 2664 signatures, with club reps issuing a joint letter in February to the PKC leader and fellow councillors urging them to intervene and halt the project.
But the plans were approved and Perth -based contractor One Call and Taylor and Fraser is looking to complete the works in the coming weeks ahead of next month’s launch.
Fears were also been raised the revamp could lead to the closure of Live Active Rodney, the future of which is currently in the balance.
CEO of Live Active Leisure Paul Cromwell said: “Work on the new facilities at Bell’s Sports Centre is well under way.
"The new fitness facilities will open on Saturday, July 9, launching with an open weekend of come and try sessions, venue tours and more.
"The future use of Live Active Rodney is still being considered and further updates will be provided once more information is available.”
Bell’s Sports Centre is still open to the pubic during the work.
