The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
‘Over the top’ plan necessary: council
FESTIVAL: Restrictions will hit trade, say city centre retailers
Council bosses have defended an extensive package of road closures planned for the BBC’s Biggest Weekend festival.
A series of restrictions will be put in place during the two-day show at Scone Palace.
But retailers in the city centre say the travel plans are “over the top” and will stop shoppers getting into the area.
Depute director of housing and environment Keith McNamara said the traffic plan was needed to ensure a smooth running operation.
He has advised shoppers to avoid travelling to Perth between 10am and 2pm next Saturday.
He said. “You can’t have a big event like this and not cause some inconvenience to some people. But you have to balance that against the international exposure that Perth will get from this event, as well as the economic benefits.”
Craig Smith, of independent retailer Conchord Records, said: “What they are planning is just over the top and will almost certainly hamper trade.”
Council chiefs have defended an extensive programme of road closures and restrictions for next weekend’s BBC Biggest Weekend Festival.
Noel Gallagher, Simple Minds and Nigel Kennedy are the headline acts expected to draw tens of thousands of music fans to Scone Palace for the highly anticipated two-day show.
The local authority has unveiled its traffic management plan with closures planned for several routes around the Palace site, as well as in the city centre.
Festival-goers are being urged to use shuttle buses, and pre-book tickets in advance if possible.
Depute director of housing and environment Keith McNamara said drawing up the plan was a balancing act, weighing up inevitable inconveniences against the major benefits for the area.
“This is a unique event and probably the biggest-ever hosted at Scone Palace.
“There are several benefits for the area. It’s really exciting to have the highest quality of UK acts at this iconic location and get blanket coverage across the UK.
“We have to be mindful of the international audience this is going to reach.”
The public has been urged to take regular shuttle buses, which will leave Tay Street every few minutes each day. A fleet of 50 buses will be in use over the weekend.
Tickets at £5 cannot be pre-booked online, but can be bought in advance from the city bus station.
The council hopes most festival-goers will buy bus passes beforehand, as well as parking spaces, to avoid queues.
Bus passengers will face a walk of about 20 minutes to the palace grounds.
People driving to the event have been warned to follow signs.
Mr McNamara said: “In terms of people coming in to Perth to shop, we would ask them to plan ahead.
“We would not suggest that people don’t come into Perth that weekend, but they might want to avoid making that journey between 10am and 2pm.”
“You can’t have a big event like this and not cause some inconvenience to some people. But you have to balance that against the international exposure that Perth will get from this event, as well as the economic benefits.”
We would not suggest that people don’t come into Perth that weekend, but they might want to avoid 10am till 2pm