Perth’s grand plans could well backfire

Sir, – I seem to recall that the plan to reuse Perth City Hall as a food market with ancillary social and community activities and benefits was brushed aside by Perth and Kinross Council as they intended to reopen the City Hall as a world-class arts venue.

This they announced with great fanfare.

Now I learn that the City Hall will become a museum, while the existing art gallery and museum will become Perth’s art gallery.

So, presumably, existing museum exhibits will be transferred to the revamped City Hall, plus whatever old items still linger in their basement.

Now, I do not recall seeing queues of people waiting patiently to get into the present art gallery and museum.

This caused alarm bells to start tinkling in my head.

Are we merely going to get a municipal museum dressed up as world-class venue? Even if the Stone of Destiny ever makes it to the museum – and that is a big if – I do not really see how the existing collection of museum artefacts would have much more than a local appeal.

Moreover, anyone local who wants to see examples of taxidermy and Roman remains and so on will no doubt have already seen them.

There is so much hype now in the world of museums and art galleries.

Councils and cultural institutions love to build their empires.

Everyone questions the actual benefits for the ordinary taxpayer.

Well, almost everyone. Robert Booth. 2 Kirkfield Place, Auchterarder.

Picture: Steve MacDougall. There is still much debate surrounding the plans to revamp Perth City Hall.