The campaign to keep leisure and sports facilities at Glover Street and oppose Perth and Kinross Council's Thimblerow plans has been reignited and is gaining momentum. The Save Perth's Sports and Leisure Centre at Glover Street campaign held a stall at last weekend's Perth Show and now has over 7,000 signatures to an online petition.
Overwhelming Support at Perth Show
According to the campaign's chairman, hundreds approached them showing support and there was "not one dissenting voice" to the campaign over the entire two days. Bill Powrie, who is campaigning alongside former Live Active Leisure chairman David MacLehose, said: "We had a fantastic reception at Perth Show. People approached us and were asking where to sign before we could even ask them."
"Hundreds of people came to our stall and there was not one dissenting voice. In fact the only one was someone wanting a paper copy of the petition rather than a QR code so we now have a paper petition too. It was unbelievable. It was a great pleasure to speak to so many people that felt the same way. We have not found anyone that wants this to happen – other than the 24 councillors that voted for it."
Council Plans and Opposition
In June 2025, councillors voted by 24 votes to 15 to progress a £74 million energy-efficient leisure centre and pool – which now includes flumes and a larger splashpad play area – at Thimblerow. The revised plans for PH2O, to be built on the site of a well-used city centre car park, are part of a £97m investment in Perth and Kinross leisure facilities.
As part of the proposal, Perth Leisure Pool would be demolished and a new leisure pool would be created, away from Glover Street, within PH2O on the smaller Thimblerow Car Park site. Plans have been submitted by Anderson Bell Christie architects for Capability Scotland to build a 60-bed residential facility on the Perth Leisure Pool car park. And Stantec UK has submitted plans to Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) – on the council's behalf – to build around 103 flats across six blocks on the Perth Leisure Pool site.
Campaigners' Concerns
Following the submission of plans, the campaign to "Save Perth's Sports and Leisure Centre at Glover Street" was relaunched. A spokesperson said: "Campaign supporters believe Glover Street remains the right location for Perth's principal sports and leisure facilities. For generations, local people have learned to swim there, enjoyed curling and ice skating, improved their fitness, competed at the highest levels and created lifelong memories with family and friends. Glover Street is more than just a sports centre – it is part of Perth's heritage and an important asset for future generations."
"Many residents believe it would make far better use of public money to invest in refurbishing and modernising the existing Glover Street facilities rather than spending millions of pounds of taxpayers' money demolishing a well-used complex and constructing a replacement elsewhere. At a time when public finances are under increasing pressure and councils across Scotland face difficult budget decisions, campaign supporters believe taxpayers deserve the very best value for money."
"Supporters are also concerned that the proposed Thimblerow development would provide less leisure water, significantly less parking and reduced accessibility for many users. Glover Street benefits from excellent road, rail and bus links, making it an ideal location for families, schools, clubs and visitors. Many fear that relocating the facilities will make them less convenient and less attractive for future generations."
Council's Response
Perth and Kinross Council has said its PH2O proposal "will bring sport and leisure facilities into the city centre, attracting more people to central Perth". A council spokesperson said: "Perth and Kinross Council's planned investment of £97.2 million in this new leisure facility demonstrates our commitment to provide high-quality sport and leisure facilities for the people of Perth and Kinross."
"PH20 at Thimblerow will replace ageing sport and leisure facilities with a modern, family-friendly leisure centre providing a wide range of popular sporting activities, in the heart of Perth. The final plans for PH20 include an eight-lane swimming pool, teaching pool, a separate 430m² leisure water area with indoor flumes, an indoor play area, games hall, gym, studios, and a café. The original brief was revised to include flumes following feedback from the public."
"PH20 will bring sport and leisure facilities into the city centre, attracting more people to central Perth, improving footfall for nearby retail and hospitality businesses, and providing close connections to important cultural attractions such as Perth Museum. It will create new opportunities to grow, reinvigorate and diversify Perth city centre's offer for residents, businesses and visitors."
"The significant investment in PH20 is in addition to £10 million for Bell's Sports Centre and upgrades at Live Active Loch Leven and Strathearn Community Campus. Together with previously approved investments in facilities in Pitlochry (£8.7m) and Blairgowrie Recreation Centre (£36m) it represents an overall investment of £142 million in the future of leisure facilities in Perth and Kinross. These leisure proposals have been agreed by council and are, importantly, both financially and operationally deliverable. They will meet the wider needs and aspirations of residents in our rural towns as well as Perth city."
"In terms of the future of the Glover Street site, two public drop-in engagement sessions were recently held alongside an online consultation. The engagement focused on the proposed Capability Scotland development and affordable housing planned for the site once it becomes available. The sessions were well attended, and feedback will be used to inform the final proposals for the future of Glover Street. This engagement was separate from discussions about the future location of Perth's swimming and leisure facilities which has been agreed as the PH2O project at Thimblerow. There will be further information available in the coming weeks on the next steps in the development of PH2O at Thimblerow."
