The SNP has thrown down the gauntlet to the leader of Perth and Kinross Council and urged him to back a budget plan that could rescue an “essential” swimming pool project.
The £25 million PH20 campaign, which proposes a major overhaul of the city’s leisure facilities, was left high and dry last year after the local authority agreed to axe funding.
The Conservative-led administration said money had to be redirected to help pay for a £50 million redevelopment of ageing Perth High School.
The local SNP group has taken the unusual step of revealing a key element of its budget amendment before next month’s full council talks.
Group leader Dave Doogan said the party’s spending plan includes a £5 million investment in PH20 to replace the current pool and Dewars ice rink with a state-of-the-art integrated facility.
He said: “It is absolutely vital that we replace our ageing, inefficient and unreliable leisure pool in Perth with a new facility which is fit for purpose, and mirrors the ambition which local people have to enjoy a first class environment to exercise, relax and play.
“The Tories inherited a £5 million commitment to this project from the previous SNP council, but they chose to remove this money last year in their budget, a move which exposes their total disregard for the people of Perth and district.”
Mr Doogan said: “In what can only be described as an absurd insult to everyone involved, the Tories claimed that by removing this £5 million council commitment it would free up Live Active Leisure to secure funding from elsewhere. This is patent nonsense and has been proved to be so.”
Members of the administration have already warned that swingeing cuts will have to be made in this year’s budget. Local Liberal Democrat group leader Peter Barrett warned residents to expect cuts to schools, roads and other frontline services, blaming a reduction in funding from the Scottish Government.
Mr Doogan added: “I think with PH20 it is not too late to recover the situation.
“If the Tories want to know how to afford this investment in difficult economic times, they need only refer to the SNP’s council budget amendment from last year which included the £5 million funding for a new facility, as well as all other major capital investments.
“I think the public will view harshly any continued refusal by this Tory council to fund their responsibility to this essential project.
“Indeed, only by the council putting our money into the pot first will allow Live Active Leisure to attract other funders to help build up the overall investment.”
Mr Doogan assured that the £50m for Perth High would be secure as part of the plan.
Slashing £5 million from the project left Live Active Leisure with a £15 million shortfall.
Council leader Murray Lyle did not respond to Mr Doogan’s budget statement.
