New details have emerged revealing that the seemingly last-minute decision to incorporate new housing for a Perth disability charity into the controversial Thimblerow leisure centre development was in fact a discussion among Perth and Kinross Council’s top officials as early as six months prior to its public announcement. This revelation has intensified concerns about transparency surrounding the highly debated PH2O project, leaving local advocacy groups and opposition councillors feeling profoundly ‘blindsided’ by the timing and nature of the changes.
The ambitious Thimblerow leisure facility proposal has faced considerable public backlash, drawing widespread criticism from local sports clubs and residents across Perth and Kinross. Thousands of individuals signed petitions expressing their dissent against the initial concept. The original blueprint envisioned the leisure centre on the city centre car park, with the former Perth Leisure Pool site on Glover Street slated for 150 affordable homes.
However, in a dramatic shift just one week before a crucial council vote, updated papers were presented. These documents abruptly abandoned the affordable housing plan for Glover Street, proposing instead a dedicated residential care centre for Capability Scotland. This eleventh-hour amendment was widely perceived as a significant, and perhaps decisive, factor in the final vote, leaving project opponents scrambling to counter the new narrative with insufficient time for comprehensive review or public engagement.
Further investigation, triggered by Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, has brought to light internal email exchanges that contradict the narrative of a sudden, reactive change. These communications confirm that discussions about relocating Capability Scotland to the Glover Street site were actively taking place among senior council officers, including Chief Executive Thomas Glen, in December of the previous year.
The impetus for finding Capability Scotland a new home stemmed from the severe flood risk posed to their current Upper Springland centre in Perth. Earlier proposals to establish new premises for the charity as part of the broader Bertha Park development had unfortunately encountered unforeseen complications, prompting the search for alternative solutions within the city.
An email from Mr. Glen, dated December 13, explicitly mentions the ‘potential of Capability being part of a redevelopment at Glover Street in Perth City, linked to new PH2O project at Thimblerow and proposed housing at what is currently Perth Leisure Pool.’ He further articulated that this option was considered ‘an attractive option for all of us if it could be accommodated and made to work financially,’ highlighting the strategic advantages of the city location, its proximity to public transport, and access to local amenities for the charity’s service users. The correspondence even raised the prospect of a ‘site exchange at Upper Springland,’ indicating a deeper, more integrated discussion than previously understood.
Just four days later, on December 17, Stephen Crawford, the council’s strategic lead for property services, weighed in on the discussion. He noted that the Perth Leisure Pool site comprised approximately ‘80% of the size Springfield / Capability Scotland Bertha Park site under consideration,’ suggesting that fitting the charity’s needs into Glover Street was ‘not impossible… but would likely be a level of compromise.’ This early internal assessment underscores the calculated nature of the eventual proposal.
The public unveiling of this revised plan, featuring Capability Scotland, by Mr. Crawford occurred a full six months after these initial confidential discussions, much to the surprise of many local stakeholders. This significant time lag between internal contemplation and public disclosure fuelled widespread criticism, with many councillors and community members expressing that the change ‘came out of the blue,’ despite evidence of its long-standing consideration internally.
At the pivotal council meeting where the Thimblerow project, with its new charitable component, was ultimately debated and voted upon, Conservative Councillor Chris Ahern vocally challenged the process. He pressed officials on the financial specifics of the land transfer to Capability Scotland, questioning whether ‘the land’ was ‘open to the normal procurement process’ and if ‘anybody else was offered the land as well.’ These questions aimed to ascertain if fair and transparent procedures were followed in allocating such a significant public asset.
In response to Councillor Ahern’s direct queries, officials stated that ‘the price has not been discussed yet’ and unequivocally that there ‘has been no procurement process on the basis that this isn’t something the council has necessarily gone out to look for.’ This official response, confirming the absence of standard procurement for a public land deal, further exacerbated concerns among the public and opposition about due diligence and accountability. The entire episode casts a long shadow over the decision-making transparency regarding major development initiatives within Perth and Kinross, highlighting a disconnect between internal planning and public notification that has deeply troubled the community.
The ambitious Thimblerow leisure facility proposal has faced considerable public backlash, drawing widespread criticism from local sports clubs and residents across Perth and Kinross. Thousands of individuals signed petitions expressing their dissent against the initial concept. The original blueprint envisioned the leisure centre on the city centre car park, with the former Perth Leisure Pool site on Glover Street slated for 150 affordable homes.
However, in a dramatic shift just one week before a crucial council vote, updated papers were presented. These documents abruptly abandoned the affordable housing plan for Glover Street, proposing instead a dedicated residential care centre for Capability Scotland. This eleventh-hour amendment was widely perceived as a significant, and perhaps decisive, factor in the final vote, leaving project opponents scrambling to counter the new narrative with insufficient time for comprehensive review or public engagement.
Further investigation, triggered by Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, has brought to light internal email exchanges that contradict the narrative of a sudden, reactive change. These communications confirm that discussions about relocating Capability Scotland to the Glover Street site were actively taking place among senior council officers, including Chief Executive Thomas Glen, in December of the previous year.
The impetus for finding Capability Scotland a new home stemmed from the severe flood risk posed to their current Upper Springland centre in Perth. Earlier proposals to establish new premises for the charity as part of the broader Bertha Park development had unfortunately encountered unforeseen complications, prompting the search for alternative solutions within the city.
An email from Mr. Glen, dated December 13, explicitly mentions the ‘potential of Capability being part of a redevelopment at Glover Street in Perth City, linked to new PH2O project at Thimblerow and proposed housing at what is currently Perth Leisure Pool.’ He further articulated that this option was considered ‘an attractive option for all of us if it could be accommodated and made to work financially,’ highlighting the strategic advantages of the city location, its proximity to public transport, and access to local amenities for the charity’s service users. The correspondence even raised the prospect of a ‘site exchange at Upper Springland,’ indicating a deeper, more integrated discussion than previously understood.
Just four days later, on December 17, Stephen Crawford, the council’s strategic lead for property services, weighed in on the discussion. He noted that the Perth Leisure Pool site comprised approximately ‘80% of the size Springfield / Capability Scotland Bertha Park site under consideration,’ suggesting that fitting the charity’s needs into Glover Street was ‘not impossible… but would likely be a level of compromise.’ This early internal assessment underscores the calculated nature of the eventual proposal.
The public unveiling of this revised plan, featuring Capability Scotland, by Mr. Crawford occurred a full six months after these initial confidential discussions, much to the surprise of many local stakeholders. This significant time lag between internal contemplation and public disclosure fuelled widespread criticism, with many councillors and community members expressing that the change ‘came out of the blue,’ despite evidence of its long-standing consideration internally.
At the pivotal council meeting where the Thimblerow project, with its new charitable component, was ultimately debated and voted upon, Conservative Councillor Chris Ahern vocally challenged the process. He pressed officials on the financial specifics of the land transfer to Capability Scotland, questioning whether ‘the land’ was ‘open to the normal procurement process’ and if ‘anybody else was offered the land as well.’ These questions aimed to ascertain if fair and transparent procedures were followed in allocating such a significant public asset.
In response to Councillor Ahern’s direct queries, officials stated that ‘the price has not been discussed yet’ and unequivocally that there ‘has been no procurement process on the basis that this isn’t something the council has necessarily gone out to look for.’ This official response, confirming the absence of standard procurement for a public land deal, further exacerbated concerns among the public and opposition about due diligence and accountability. The entire episode casts a long shadow over the decision-making transparency regarding major development initiatives within Perth and Kinross, highlighting a disconnect between internal planning and public notification that has deeply troubled the community.