Healthworks campaigners attack council death knell

Jul 4 2008 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A LETTER from council leaders, effectively sounding the death knell for a popular Perth sports centre, came under fierce attack yesterday from campaigners fighting a rearguard action to save it.

The letter, signed by four of the political group leaders, stated there was “no realistic prospect” of retaining the Healthworks facility at Cherrybank as a financially viable leisure facility.

“We therefore wish to advise you that Perth and Kinross Council will not be pursuing this further,” added the letter.

The correspondence was signed by Councillors Ian Miller (SNP), George Hayton (Liberal/Democrat), Alexander Stewart (Conservative) and Archie MacLellan (Labour).

But Matt Shaw, vice-chairman of the Save Healthworks Action Committee (SHAC), insisted yesterday: “It is far too easy for the council to write a letter saying they will not be pursuing the matter any further and hope that’s the end of it.

“If that is their decision, we need to know they did their very best to reach a fair and balanced decision. All evidence, however, points to the fact that is not the case.”

And he blasted: “The letter is a blatant attempt to close the door prematurely on this issue.

“It was sent in response to an e-mail from SHAC asking for answers to several ‘awkward’ questions.

“Since then, several more questions remain ignored/unanswered by council leaders, despite them being repeated on several occasions.”

One of the questions the committee want answered is why the council/Perth and Kinross Leisure (PKL) didn’t approach the Gannochy Trust to ask what assistance they could offer in retaining Healthworks when the trust made it clear on more than one occasion they were waiting for such an approach and were keen to help.

Mr Shaw added: “The council stated the Gannochy Trust do not cover on-going revenue funding for projects and any funding is only for capital costs.

“The Gannochy Trust, however, tell us they are already funding on-going revenue projects for PKL and the council. Please explain this ambiguity.

“In assessing the required provision for Perthshire, PKL have always factored in the significant role Healthworks played.

“PKL's recent review was done before Norwich Union’s decision to close Healthworks.

“Does this mean the council and PKL are now revising their plans for future provision to include the 3000-plus regular users of Healthworks?

“We know there were no additional squash courts planned for Perth, so where are Healthwork's six regional teams and around 60 regular players going to play?”