Perth College bosses have been accused of “haemorrhaging” money through its £7 million sport and wellbeing centre which has made a financial loss every full year it has been open.
The multi-million Academy of Sport and Wellbeing (ASW) has made a loss of more than £400,000 since it opened its doors in 2016, according to figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request.
The revelation comes after Perth College UHI announced it was closing its learning centres in Crieff, Blairgowrie and Kinross in June due to financial constraints.
One staff member said the centres were being sacrificed to help keep the sports academy afloat.
The leisure tutor, who asked to remain anonymous, said it was unfair that the Perthshire bases were being axed to “prop up” the multi-million facility.
The tutor said: “All the learning centres have money coming in and I don’t know why we can’t keep them open.
“It’s all to prop up a haemorrhaging building.
“It just doesn’t make any sense, I don’t understand it. Close that and keep the learning centres open.”
Perthshire South and Kinross-shire SNP MSP Roseanna Cunningham said she had some sympathy with the argument.
Ms Cunningham said: “The sport and wellbeing centre at Perth College is a fantastic facility but these figures certainly suggest that it is one that could be better used.
“Perhaps if it were not losing money hand over fist here, the college would not have closed down the learning centres in Crieff and Kinross in my constituency, centres that were delivering courses that were popular and, indeed, over-subscribed.”
Scottish Conservative MSP Liz Smith, who represents the Mid Scotland and Fife region, said: “Clearly, there are many challenges facing the college sector and Perth College UHI is no exception.
“There are significant financial constraints and it is disappointing to hear that the Sport and Wellbeing centre is affected as well as the outreach education centres in Blairgowrie, Crieff and Kinross.”
Perth College UHI denied the money lost through the sports academy has had any effect on the running of the satellite centres in rural Perthshire.
A spokesperson for the college said: “The ASW plays a pivotal role for Perth College UHI in attracting students to study in Perth and in the day-to-day lives of our students, staff and members of the community.
“The decision taken to close the learning centres in Blairgowrie, Crieff and Kinross was based on financial efficiencies in line with best value practices.
“The College is continuing to review and identify cost effective, flexible provision that meets regional needs within our communities.
“Therefore, there is no connectivity between the ASW and the Learning Centre’s closure decisions.”
