Re-open the doors to health

Sep 12 2008 by Les Stewart, Deputy Editor

THERE was fresh hope yesterday that the popular Healthworks Sports Centre at Cherrybank, Perth, which closed down at the end of April, could open for business again.

The Save Healthworks Action Committee, who campaigned tirelessly to prevent insurance giants Norwich Union from pulling the plug on the swimming pool, gym and sports courts, revealed yesterday that interest in the mothballed facility had been expressed from several quarters.

Matt Shaw, action committee vice-chairman, said they were meeting several potential private investors and energiescotland, a successful sports franchise company, all of whom were interested in re-opening the excellent facility.

Hundreds of local sportsmen and women took advantage of the first-class facilities for a quarter of a century.

With health high on the government’s agenda, and more and more schoolchildren and adults suffering from obesity, the re-opening of the Cherrybank facility would be warmly welcomed in many quarters.

It would also be a fitting outcome for all the hours of hard work the action committee has put in over the past six months trying to unsuccessfully persuade the council – and others – to take over the running of the centre.

PERTHSHIRE people who want to make sure of a big surprise this weekend won’t have to go down to the woods! For the Scottish Woodfair 2008 is coming to them.

The three-day event, which starts today and runs until Sunday, is spreading its roots across several Fair City venues, including the Dewars Conference Centre in Glover Street, the St John’s Shopping Centre and Kinnoull Hill.

Visitors of all ages will be able to enjoy the very best that working with Scottish wood has to offer.