Olympic champion Eve Muirhead is warning the loss of curling to the city of Perth could prevent the area producing future gold medallists.
Long awaited plans to replace the Dewars Centre and the neighbouring leisure pool with a new development will be voted on by councillors on Wednesday.
A council paper proposes both sites are demolished, with a new ice rink deemed unviable.
“Without the facility in Perth I could almost guarantee I wouldn’t be sitting here as an Olympic champion and Olympic medallist in Sochi,” Eve Muirhead said.
“It’s a facility that definitely helped me grow up. I knew the place inside out because I spent the majority of my time there because I loved the sport.
“I’ll guarantee to you, if curling isn’t in Perth it’ll prevent a lot of champions coming through, which is really sad.
“Yes, there are other facilities in Scotland but curling in Perth, to me it’s the home of curling.
“Ice conditions are always great.”
Latest proposals from council officers have suggested a new multi million pound site on Thimbelrow car park.
It would include an eight lane swimming pool, gym and sports hall.
The council leader is proposing to keep the Dewars Centre open by renting it back to Scottish Curling at a very low price.
STV News“They can takeover the facility for a lease on a time to be determined by a legal framework moving forward,” said councillor Grant Laing.
“They can run it for a pound a year rent.”
When asked if he’d support Scottish Curling’s call for a community asset transfer of the site, Councillor Laing added: “What would happen if we as a council, [supported] a community asset transfer, then 40 years down the line it became unviable as a going concern.
“Then we’d have a piece of ground that’s outwith our control, that could be sold on, we’d lose control of it.
“I don’t think the people of Perth and Kinross would think that’s a good way forward.”
One club that seemingly already knows its fate is Perth Indoor Bowling.
Players like Doug have been unable to access the Dewars Centre since April after their hall was turned into a gym.
STV News“I’ve played bowls for 60 years, both indoor and outdoor,” said Doug Lambert.
“It would be a great void in my life to be honest, without the indoor season during the winter.”
Plans for a new leisure venue in Perth were first drawn up over a decade ago, but the proposals have been adapted several times since then.
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