City Hall ‘vision’ is the deceased parrot

Sir, – At the end of April I attended a meeting at which Vivian Linacre outlined his vision for Perth City Hall. I left convinced that his plans would never be more than a dream.

He draws his vision for his redevelopment from various market halls, including Belfast and Adelaide. Belfast has an urban population of nearly 600,000 while Adelaide’s population is double that, at 1.2 million. Perth’s population is less than 50,000.

Although claiming he has undertaken a feasibility study, he did not, at any time, present any evidence to show where the essential footfall and sales would come from to justify the proposed investment of £4.5 million or the running and maintenance costs of the venture.

When asked where funding was coming from, he would only say that there would be no cost to the public purse and that he had support from the Prince’s Trust Regeneration Fund and other unspecified funding would flow from that. He also stated he would expect Perth & Kinross Council to charge only a nominal rent for the hall.

He was asked if he had a marketing plan and confirmed that he had, but gave no details. He was asked if he had a business plan, but was vague at best. He also claimed that the regeneration of the City Hall would bring millions of pounds into Perth and would help regenerate the city centre but made no attempt to identify how this could be achieved.

He asserted that there was no possibility of the Perth City Market Trust, which would administer the development, failing financially.

He repeatedly accused Perth & Kinross Council of breaches of regulations but again failed to provide any substantial examples or evidence of this.

I’m afraid that it is Vivian Linacre himself who is the infamous pet shop owner in the Monty Python sketch he mentions (Letters, May 21) and he should now accept that the City Hall is indeed like the renowned parrot – deceased. M Duncan. 100 Craigie Road, Perth.