Perth Leisure Pool

Perth Leisure Pool is the main indoor public leisure and recreation centre in the city of Perth, Scotland.^[1]

External view of the Perth Leisure Pool building

In 2006, the facility was noted for receiving more than 700,000 visitors a year.^[2] As of 2024, however, the future of Perth Leisure Pool, the adjacent Dewar's Centre and Bell's Sports Centre were in doubt, due to their losing money annually.^[3] Plans for a new sports centre, initially discussed a decade earlier, were started again.^[4]

Development

Perth Leisure Pool was designed in 1984 after an architectural contest run by the RIAS and Perth Council which was won by architects FaulknerBrowns.^[5][6] Councillor John L. Wilson presided over the development of the facility,^[7] and it was opened by Anne, Princess Royal, on 29 July 1988.

Facilities

The complex includes five swimming pools with flumes, bubble beds and other water features;^[8] a gym,^[9] health spa, cafe, creche and outdoor children's play area. The separate children's lagoon varies in depth between 1 and 2+1⁄2 feet (0.30 and 0.76 m).

Cryptosporidiosis outbreak

In August 2002,^[10] there was an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis at the pool, which caused gastrointestinal illness for 74 people.^[11] This resulted in the closure of the facility while the matter was investigated.^[12] Numerous improvements to the cleaning and water treatment processes were recommended by the Outbreak Control Team and these were made prior to the reopening of the centre.^[13][14]