Time for a decision
Perth is in desperate need of a decision on the future of the Stone of Destiny, according to traders and politicians.
Next week marks a year since the end of a six-week consultation on two rival bids for the relic.
Perth and Kinross Council wants to make it the centrepiece of its city hall project, but Historic Environment Scotland wants to keep it at Edinburgh Castle.
A PA’s own It Is Our Destiny campaign to bring the artefact home to Perthshire won the support of the likes of Hollywood star Ewan McGregor and long-distance cyclist Mark Beaumont.
But a decision is yet to be made by the Commissioners for the Safeguarding of the Regalia having been delayed due to COVID-19.
Since the consultation, several Perth city centre shops have closed their doors including Beales, Phase Eight, This Little Piggy, Gap, Argos and Bandwagon Music Shop.
And Dawn Cotton Fuge, co-chair of the Perth Traders’ Association, told the PA the delay was “incredibly frustrating” and traders just felt like they were “treading water.”
She said: “As long as we have COVID, everything is being held up.
“We do not know how much longer that is going to be the case. We just feel like we are treading water.”
Mid Scotland and Fife Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said he understands why a decision has not been made but said it would help businesses who are struggling financially to get some certainty.
The Conservative MSP wrote to first minister Nicola Sturgeon in her role as one of the Commissioners of the Regalia back in February to ask when a decision would be made.
Mr Fraser believes bringing the Stone of Destiny back to Perthshire where the stone was quarried could “make a real difference to business confidence locally.”
He told the PA: “I understand that businesses and shops are going through very difficult times just now so the promise of the Stone of Destiny coming back to Perth could make a real difference to business confidence locally.”
Perth and North Perthshire SNP MP Pete Wishart thinks it is “extremely disappointing” a decision has not been made.
He added: “The Perth City Hall project is part of the vital Tay Cities Deal, which we are still waiting for the UK Government to sign off.
“Alongside the representations that I have already made to the UK Government regarding the Tay Cities Deal, I will also be raising the matter of the Stone of Destiny with the relevant authorities to see if we can get things moving.”
Perth city centre Lib Dem councillor Peter Barrett said the people of Perth “need” a decision.
He said: “That consultation was conducted on behalf of the Commissioners for the Safeguarding of the Regalia and was overwhelmingly in support of displaying the Stone in Perth.
“The decision is in the hands of Nicola Sturgeon, now more than ever before we need to bring this remarkable historic artefact home to a state of the art museum which will help drive tourism and support our visitor economy. It’s time to back Perth’s bid for the Stone.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Commissioners’ consideration of the location of the Stone of Destiny was delayed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. The outcome of that consideration will be made when circumstances allow.”