Perth is preferable to Edinburgh
Last year, people from across our region came together to produce a powerful new Perth Story.
Put simply, it is designed to promote our city and the wider region by focusing on our fantastic independent culture, our strong local and international connectivity, and our unrivalled quality of life.
We also launched our Perth Ambassador network to give us a stronger voice nationally and internationally.
Nine months on, we have another potentially game-changing development with the consultation over the future location of the Stone of Destiny.
It is one of the biggest opportunities for Perth since the successful, hard-fought campaign to win back our city status in 2012.
The plans for a £23 million new museum in Perth City Hall, with the stone at its centrepiece, would bring hundreds of thousands of new visitors, create dozens of new jobs, secure more trade for our shops, bars, restaurants and attractions, and swell our regional economy by millions of pounds a year.
I was born in Perth and have been back living in the city for the past 20 years.
I love Edinburgh too, and went to university and worked there.
But for me there is only one winner when it comes to this choice - Perth.
That’s because it’s about far more than a piece of stone. It’s about equality, accessibility and fairness. It’s also not just about protecting things from our past, it’s about sharing the huge future opportunities from our incredible heritage.
There are many compelling reasons why the stone should come to Perth, but consider just two points.
Firstly, Edinburgh already has one of the largest tourism economies in the world - and it is overheating. Housing and visitor accommodation costs continue to rise, and visitor numbers are so high that there are plans for a tourism tax.
In contrast, Perth’s economy is growing sustainably and has capacity for further good growth. Should we not be ensuring we have a balanced economy where prosperity is shared and not one where it is monopolised?
Secondly, there should be easy and open access to one of our country’s most precious historical artefacts. Scotland’s own national heritage strategy says so, but the current position with the stone is frankly shocking.
One in four visitors to Edinburgh Castle never see the stone and 95 per cent have to pay for the privilege. For a family of four, that amounts to a whopping £62. Hardly accessible and certainly not fair, particularly for those struggling financially.
In contrast, the Stone would be free to visit in Perth, and easily accessible in 90 minutes for 70 per cent of Scotland’s population.
But I’m afraid my words and arguments won’t bring the stone to Perth. We need action.
Perth and Kinross Council should be applauded for its ambition to help create a cultural and creative industry corridor along the Tay.
Now all of us across our communities need to play our part by having our say in the consultation.
This is your opportunity to personally influence the future of our city and benefit the wider region beyond.
Please don’t leave it to others. Make your own voice heard and help bring the stone home.
It’s about far more than a piece of stone. It’s about equality, accessibility and fairness