State-of-the-art recreation centre to open this month

Taking shape The building work at Blairgowrie Rec

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After numerous delays and setbacks, the new £36 million Blairgowrie Recreation Centre is finally expected to open mid-July.

On Wednesday, June 18 PKC's strategic lead for Property Services Stephen Crawford told the Finance and Resources Committee issues with the leaking pool had now been resolved.

The news has been warmly welcomed, particularly by the three ward councillors for Blairgowrie and Glens.

Work got under way on the replacement centre back in June 2023 after the project was continually held up. Brexit, the covid pandemic, a drainage issue and market volatility caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine were all blamed for delays.

Scotland's first ultra-low energy swimming pool and recreation centre was scheduled to open in December 2024.

However, it was agreed it would open early 2025 to avoid disruption to Blairgowrie High School's prelim timetable with pupils sitting exams there both before and after the Christmas holidays.

But once the swimming pool was filled, several leaks were discovered and contractors have spent the past few months working to resolve the issue.

On Wednesday, PKC's strategic lead for Property Services Stephen Crawford (inset, top) announced the good news to councillors.

He said: "The pool is now full and we're working through commissioning of the centre hopefully to get handover mid-July."

He assured councillors they would seek to "minimise" disruption whilst the old centre on Beeches Road which is over 40 years old closes down and the new one, built next to it and Blairgowrie High School, opens.