Church regeneration work hit by delay

WORK to transform a Perth city centre landmark into a new civic space for markets, shows and exhibitions has been delayed for months.

The £2 million regeneration of St Paul’s Church has been postponed until April after “unforeseen issues” arose at the site.

In July, Perth and Kinross Council said the project was entering its final phase and was expected to be completed “in the coming months”.

However, the latest setback means the work is now not likely to be finished until August next year. The delays have been blamed on a number of factors, including issues with supplies of stone and a flaw in the steeple construction.

The site will now shut down completely from December 20.

The council said it was “not feasible” to carry out the remaining work over the winter as it could compromise the safety of the workforce and integrity of the materials being used.

Stonework on the church requires the use of lime mortar, in accordance with Historic and Environmental Scotland guidelines. Experts at the Scottish Lime Centre have advised the local authority not to carry out repairs during the winter months as the mortar could be affected, presenting a long-term risk to the building.

Jim Valentine, depute chief executive of Perth and Kinross Council, said: “It is important that we take on board and follow the expert advice we have been provided to mitigate any potential risks that could affect the quality of the materials.”