Perth and Kinross Council will explore converting Perth’s Rodney Centre into an annex for Kinnoull Primary School.
It is one of a range of options now being looked at by officers for the Dundee Road building.
At a meeting of the full council on June 22 councillors agreed to Live Active Leisure (LAL) withdrawing services from Rodney Centre and to explore alternative options for its future.
The report put before Perth and Kinross Council explained – under the terms of agreement – councillors had to give formal agreement to the fitness service being provided at Bell’s Sports Centre but “cannot unreasonably withhold such permission”.
Gym equipment from the Dundee Road venue is being moved to the coaching hall at Bell’s Sports Centre to transform it into a 100-station gym as part of a £750,000 revamp.
It is due to open next month on July 9.
Leisure boss says current plan is ‘best of both’
LAL’s chief executive Paul Cromwell told councillors: “What we have now is the best of both. We still have the main arena which is available for events. It’s available for our local community during the week.
“And we’ll have the outstanding destination fitness facilities which will absolutely regenerate and rejuvenate that facility in terms of the different range of clients and particularly our local community that will use that going forward.”
He argued Bell’s was more central and easier to access by public transport and by bike with cycle paths on the North Inch, as well as having a car park.
The report explained Rodney Centre is a PKC property occupied by LAL.
PKC’s most recent condition survey in 2019 identified the building as “Satisfactory”.
Officers told councillors it would require £275,000 spent on it over the next five years mainly on mechanical and electrical upgrades “as heating and electrical wiring are nearing end of life”.
Annual property costs are around £40,000 but business rates which would apply if occupied by PKC would increase this by around £26,572 per year.
‘This is a difficult decision’
Moving the report council leader Grant Laing said: “Councillors, this is a difficult decision for us all and I respect the views expressed on all sides of the chamber.
“I know they stem from our shared passion and commitment to providing the best services possible for the people we’re elected to serve.
“Equally I respect the very difficult decisions for LAL to ensure its long-term financial sustainability whilst maintaining services across the whole area.”
The SNP councillor added: “I note that officers are actively investigating alternative uses for Rodney and will return with options for the Property Sub- committee to consider later this year.”
He added: “COVID – as we know – has forced the demise of many gyms and the climate emergency drives the reduction of our building and carbon footprints, making action imperative. Investing in new facilities comes at the price of closing others.
“And whilst recognising that imperative I would like to see the potential for the Rodney to be used as an annex accommodation to Kinnoull Primary School.
“Can it deliver a viable solution for nursery and infant accommodation relieving accommodation pressures and increasing the current cramped and crowded outdoor playground space the school has?
“I raised this with the director of Education and Children’s Services and – whilst I acknowledge that there may be issues to overcome with managing a two-centre and split campus school and the unknown cost of bringing the building up to the required energy efficiency standards as well as conversion costs – I do believe it presents a unique, perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to address Kinnoull’s spatial restrictions and deliver on local and national priorities for education and children and young people.”
Linking centre to school ‘an excellent idea’
Strathmore Conservative councillor Hugh Anderson said: “Rodney brings back lots of memories to me.
“It came into council control about 1988-ish – a gift from General Accident.
“In 1992-1996 I was convener of recreation and a lot of effort in our campaigns meant having a really beautiful Rodney area in our Britain and Scotland in Bloom competitions – which we won.
“It would be sad to lose that asset to the community. I think possibly Councillor Barrett’s suggestion of it being used/linked to the school would be an excellent idea of trying to beautify and regenerate the area.”
Mr Laing and fellow SNP councillor Sheila McCole – who seconded – were happy to incorporate that into their motion. It was agreed by the council.
LAL will withdraw its services from Rodney by August 31, 2022.
Alternative uses for the venue – as well as its marketing potential – are now being examined.
A report of options will be put before PKC’s Property Sub committee later this year.
Conversation