Martial arts club keen to move into property abandoned by salon

Fair City Jiu Jitsu looking to make location its first in centre of town

A martial arts club hopes to move into a Perth city centre premises that was abandoned by a national tanning salon over a “sexualised” window display row.

Fair City Jiu Jitsu want to take over the building on the corner of Princes Street and Canal Street that was previously home to Sun Shack before the firm quit Perth last year.

The location has lain empty since February 2019 after Perth and Kinross Council demanded the salon remove or cover up its larger-than-life images of bikini-clad women from the windows.

Sun Shack said they were “disgusted” by the decision as they shut up shop on Princes Street, with the loss of six jobs.

Earlier this month, the local authority also controversially gave permission for the attached building, currently home to Fit4Less, to be demolished and replaced by six flats – a move that will result in eight people losing their livelihoods.

Gym manager Tammy Fleuchar was left outraged after councillors green-lit the move which saw her business, which has 1,200 members, evicted.

Despite the planned upheaval around the premises, Fair City Jiu Jitsu wants the building as its first city centre location as it is currently based at Riverview Business Park in Friarton.

Steven Gray, who runs the club, said: “We’ve been at Friarton for about four years so we’ve been on the outskirts of the city.

“But it’s been growing every year, it’s getting bigger and better, so we want to get down in the centre so we can be seen.

“It’s a better location for teenagers and it will be easier for school kids to get to. It’s the next step for us, for possibly more jobs and opening up for more activities as well, like yoga.

“So it will be about getting in and seeing what we can do.”

The club proposes opening times of 10.30am to 9pm, Monday to Friday, and 10.30am to 2pm on Saturday, and claims little noise will be created by the classes due to the low impact nature of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

There have been no objections to the application but a neutral comment from neighbour Cameron McCrossan has asked that adequate soundproofing is installed and attendees are dropped off using the Canal Street car park due to the lack of parking on Princes Street.

“It’s been growing every year, it’s getting bigger and better, so we want to get down in the centre so we can be seen. STEVEN GRAY

Picture: Steven MacDougall. The location has been empty since February 2019.