The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Retail: Top Perth trader urges action to save city centre.
Prominentcityretailer saysPerthandKinross Councilmustaccept someresponsibilityfor citycentre’sdecline
The owner of one of Perth’s best known businesses has called for swift action to halt the decline of the city’s retail heart.
Carpets and furnishings retailer James Barclay, 71, entered the debate on how to revitalise the city in the wake of the shock demise of McEwens of Perth.
“I feel strongly about the town and how badly it is going wrong,” said Mr Barclay at his Glasgow Road business.
“There are unfortunately very few privately owned shops left.
“Perth is becoming a city of pound shops and charity shops.”
A pivotal moment for the city centre was when permission was granted for the Highland Gateway retail park at Inveralmond on the edge of Perth, according to Mr Barclay.
“In my view the council must have some responsibility for the demise of the town centre,” he said.
“When I was a board member of the chamber of commerce a few years ago, a planning application came in for the Highland Gateway – the chamber objected strongly to that getting passed.
“To me it is unfair competition for retailers in the town as there is free car parking and it is taking footfall away from the town centre which we badly need and many thousands of customers shop there every week.
“At the time there was space at St Catherine’s retail park, which is an extension of the town centre.”
He conceded this battle had been lost, but called for action to bring people back into the city.
“The council must address the parking problem in the centre of Perth,” he said.
“We need to reintroduce parking around the city hall as it used to be – lost revenue because of this must run into thousands and thousands of pounds.”
He also backed the calls of some retailers to reverse the pedestrianisation of St John Street and called on the council to look at rates in the city centre to help business.
Lastly, Mr Barclay said something must be done to tackle eyesore buildings in Perth such as St Paul’s Church, which has now lain empty for nearly 30 years, blighting the centre.
He said dire warnings had been made six months ago about the state of the building but a solution appeared no nearer being found.
“Has any progress been made?” he asked, somewhat rhetorically.
We need to reintroduce parking around the city hall as it used to be – lost revenue because of this must run into thousands and thousands of pounds.
JAMES BARCLAY