Cultural project to save city hall?

Landmark would be Fair City’s answer to the V&A in Dundee

Perth City Hall could become the city’s answer to the opening of the V&A in Dundee, The Courier understands.

Speculation that the desire for a cultural attraction and a solution to the decade-long problem of the vacant building would be a “perfect marriage” was fuelled after a private meeting of the full council.

Lease negotiations to create a food market have faltered, leaving the future of the listed building up in the air, and council leader Ian Miller would not be drawn on the cultural attraction proposal – but his assertion that he envisaged a “quick solution” did nothing to dampen speculation.

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After a decade of doubt over its future, Perth City Hall could be saved as a cultural attraction.

Desperate to capitalise on some of the tourism potential that will be created by the opening of the V&A in Dundee, the council is looking to establish a major visitor draw.

Now that the latest plan for the Edwardian building has hit difficulties – lease negotiations for a food market have been suspended amid doubts over the financial viability – speculation is rife that a cultural attraction could be the answer to the future of the city hall.

“It would be the perfect marriage,” said a council insider. “The council has already agreed they want a new cultural attraction for the city and now they have to decide where it should be housed.

“The way is now clear for the city hall, which the council owns, to be given a new use and solve the problem of what to do with it.”

The building has lain vacant for 11 years and various suggested uses have come and gone. At one stage demolition looked a real possibility to make way for a civic square until heritage watchdogs blocked this option until all possibilities had been explored.

Following a closed doors meeting on Wednesday, when councillors agreed to suspend lease negotiations, it was revealed that depute chief executive Jim Valentine has now been tasked with exploring “all options” for the listed building.

Also discussed in private at the meeting was “an update and next steps for developing a cultural offer in Perth and Kinross”.

Council leader Councillor Ian Miller wouldn’t be drawn on the use of city hall for the cultural attraction but his assertion that he envisaged a “quick solution” did nothing to dampen speculation.

“I am not pessimistic about this (suspension of the lease negotiations), I am optimistic that we can move forward and ultimately achieve something of benefit to the Perth economy,” he said.

The speed with which Mr Valentine is expected to report back, possibly May but definitely by June, suggests that a real way forward is under consideration.

It was back in July that councillors agreed to feasibility work on creating a cultural attraction including identifying funding for such a venture, costings and a potential location.

Councillors were told that nothing had been ruled in or out with regard to where such an attraction would be housed or whether it would be in an existing building or a new construction.

The attraction, which would showcase Modern Scots aspect of Perth’s identity, could attract 160,000 visitors a year and benefit from loans from UK and Scottish museums.