A Perth leisure centre faces an uncertain future and could be sold off after its fitness equipment was moved to a brand new gymnasium.
Councillors on Wednesday will be recommended to approve withdrawing services at Rodney Centre, currently run by Live Active Leisure (LAL), from August 31.
It comes after gym equipment was moved from the Dundee Road venue to Bell’s Sports Centre, which saw its Coaching Hall transformed into a 100-station gym as part of a £750,000 revamp.
Recommendations in the report to go before councillors at the meeting also notes “alternative uses... are now being examined” and that “a market valuation of the property is being undertaken”.
The report by Fiona Robertson, the council’s head of culture and communities services, also requests officers to bring options for future use of the building for consideration by the property sub committee later in the year.
It reveals that a £275,000 capital spend is required on the Rodney Centre, mostly for mechanical and electrical upgrades as heating and electrical wiring are “nearing end of life”.
LAL completed an options appraisal to try and find an alternative viable use for the facility which included: a dedicated gymnastics centre; a bowls venue; sports overspill provisions from Bell’s; a soft play centre; a health/wellbeing venue; and a martial arts centre.
However the report details that these options were either not feasible due to the centre’s condition, the funding requirements would be too high, or that not enough income would be generated.
LAL said it wants to concentrate services at Bell’s Sports Centre, Perth Leisure Pool and the Dewars Centre with a focus on moving forward with the PH20 project - which includes £25m replacement for Perth Leisure Pool.
The market valuation of the building is being assessed and the report revealed that “a number of enquiries” have been made into the facility.
If approved and services are to be removed, LAL will fully relocate its staff and equipment to Bell’s by August 31.
Perth District Volleyball organiser David Munro, who has condemned the gym transformation at Bell’s Sport Centre, said the issues of the Coaching Hall and Rodney Centre “are inextricably linked”.
He added: “We remain convinced that there was no public support for the proposal to rip up the floor of the Coaching Hall and are mystified why it still proceeded in spite of what was said at the final meeting of the council prior to the elections.
“Live Active Leisure want to offload Rodney and their way of doing that is to provide a state-of-the-art weight training facility in the Coaching Hall thus making Rodney in effect redundant.
“The price to be paid by the public is the loss of an excellent sports hall and the addition of a gym that nobody wants.
“It has been a classic case of ‘know the price of everything and the value of nothing’.
“As an exercise in public decision-making the process has been a disgrace.
“No public consultation took place about the decision to de-commission the Coaching Hall, no consultation with users and no consultation with the Perth and Kinross Sports Council.
“All of that was bad enough but the real disgrace was that the council were told this again and again and chose to ignore it.
“That is nothing less than a cynical disregard for the democratic process and an irresponsible exercise of power.
“It would be very refreshing indeed if the incoming administration of the council were to demonstrate their support and respect for the electorate by stopping things now and carrying out an inquiry and then initiating consultation.
“We did try to initiate a petition under the council’s petitions procedure whereby alleged failures can be investigated but we have heard nothing back from the Council. The 2600 objectors to the proposals deserve a council response.
“It would be wonderful to have our faith in the democratic process repaired.”
