Fun pool back on agenda for PH2O

Perth and Kinross Council has updated its plans for its new sports facility in Perth PH2O to now include flumes and a larger splashpad play area.

- KATHRYN ANDERSON

On Wednesday, June 18, councillors will be asked to approve a revised £74million proposal at Thimblerow.

It is part of a £97m investment which includes plans to upgrade the leisure facilities in Kinross and Crieff and develop Perth’s Bell’s Sports Centre as an unheated, covered sports pitch/events space.

Council leader Grant Laing has described the proposal as “a really positive step forward".

Plans for Perth's replacement leisure centre PH2O have been repeatedly shelved and altered by Perth and Kinross Council since first floated over 10 years ago.

In September 2024, councillors voted for a watered down £61m PH2O proposal to be built at Thimblerow.

The proposal approved was to include: an eight-lane 25m pool, 12.5mx8.5m teaching pool (both with movable floors), a toddler splash pad area, an indoor play area (potential Clip n’ Climb or other family play activity), games hall, gym, studios and café.

Weekend/holiday inflatable sessions were proposed in the pool.

As well as the leisure offer being reduced, there has been strong opposition to Perth's new sports centre being built on the site of a well-used city centre car park.

Now, Perth and Kinross Council has drawn up two revised options which would bring back having additional leisure water facilities at the PH2O facility, but which would still see it built at Thimblerow.

Both options include flumes up to 5.5m and an extended splashpad play area. The first option is 9,184m².

The second option has a larger footprint of a 9,655m² and a “further” extended splashpad play area. Officers are recommending the second option.