Partial victory as High Street reopens to taxis

High Street business owners welcome the move but ask why buses and cars are excluded

Struggling businesses in Perth’s High Street have won a partial victory with the announcement the council has reopened part of the road to taxis for six months.

The High Street, close to South Methven Street, had been shut due to the £2 million redevelopment of St Paul’s Church but the council reopened the road on Tuesday.

The council initially said the High Street would be closed until September.

Mohammed Ali, 52, who owns Tekno World, claimed his takings had fallen by up to 60% since the closure and warned matters were so bad he might have to shut up shop.

He said he was pleased about the reopening but he would rather it applied to buses and private cars too.

“Shops here received an email from the council stating the road would reopen but only to taxis, not cars or buses, so I feel this is a halfway measure,” he said.

“We got a lot of custom from people getting off the bus so I feel this move defeats the purpose,” he added.

David Gill, owner of Perth City Kilts, said: “It’s good that the road has reopened but I would have thought the council could let the buses back here as a gesture.

“A lot of bus passengers got off in this area and came in to the shops or went to some of the restaurants and cafes.”

Perth City Centre councillor Peter Barrett, a Liberal Democrat, described the move as “good news” for locals.

“The next stage is about the design and use of the square, so I would urge local residents and businesses to ensure they make their views are known,” he said.

A council spokeswoman said: “The road closure, which has been in place since March, is not currently required for this stage of the works at St Paul’s Church.

“Following feedback from local businesses, the council has decided to reopen the road for the meantime to allow temporary restricted access to the area, although bus diversions will remain in place.”

She added: “In terms of bus routes, there is a legal process which needs to be gone through to change a bus route, and given that the road is only being reopened temporarily, and the process would have to be gone through again in a few months’ time to change the route back to what it is currently, the services are not currently being rerouted.”

The local authority says it is progressing with the £2m plan to transform the dilapidated St Paul’s Church into an open space.

This has included the removal of 50 tonnes of pigeon droppings, a cull of nesting birds and the removal of asbestos, loose slates, masonry, vegetation and other debris.

Shops here received an email from the council stating the road would reopen but only to taxis, not cars or buses, so I feel this is a halfway measure. MOHAMMED ALI TEKNO WORLD

Picture: Steve MacDougall. The road has been closed while work is carried out on St Paul’s Church.