Curling: No Perth facility could be 'cataclysmic', says Scottish Curling CEO
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Eve Muirhead is one of many curling champions to emerge from Perthshire
Having no curling facility in Perth could have a "cataclysmic" impact on the sport, says Scottish Curling chief executive Vincent Bryson.
An ice rink was not expected to be included in a new centre pitched by Perth and Kinross Council, who want to close Dewars and two other sites.
But officers are to present a plan that includes a rink in the new facility after "tentatively positive" progress.
"[We] must have curling in Perth," Bryson told BBC Radio Scotland.
"It's absolutely critical. You would be displacing about 1,000 registered curlers and up to 1,500 who are participating.
"Last Monday we had the news [a new centre] would go ahead without an ice sport offering. Now we're round the table with council leaders and senior officers to try and make sure we get the best possible case for curling and ice sports to stay.
"We're tentatively positive because we think we can make a great case."
Perth and Kinross Council wants to close Dewars and two other sites and create one new facility
Olympic gold medal-winning curler Eve Muirhead expressed "shock" at the closure of Dewars, where she started her career, and Scottish Curling stated their opposition "to the closure of any ice rink".
The council says Dewars is used mainly for curling and indoor bowling, which only account for 3% of sports use in Perth.
Closing it along with Perth Leisure Pool and the Bell's Sports Centre would allow the council to cut costs by creating a centre with a new swimming pool, fitness gym, sports hall, studios and family play activities.
The proposal follows the closure of an ice rink in Ayr last year because of a steep rise in energy prices.