The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
City of Culture bid will be a major driver as cultural transformation is sought
The Tay Cities Deal will be the key to jobs and prosperity in Perth and Kinross, civic and business leaders are predicting.
The thrust of the bid locally is cultural transformation, with projects including making Pitlochry Festival Theatre into a centre of performance excellence, a £30 million capital investment in Perth Theatre, Perth Museum and Art Gallery and a new cultural attraction at City Hall.
A major driver will be the Perth 2021 UK City of Culture bid.
Councillor Ian Miller, Perth and Kinross Council leader, was in no doubt of the importance of the deal.
“Our submission also has an unprecedented focus on cultural regeneration, supporting Perth’s bid to be UK City of Culture 2021 and Dundee’s bid for European Capital of Culture 2023,” he said.
“In addition, we want to create opportunities for people in work to progress, as well as easing restrictions on access for new entrants to the jobs market to support our ambition of smarter, fairer growth through collaboration.”
John Bullough, chairman of Perth City Development Board and a member of the Tay Cities Deal regional business group, said: “The level of collaboration between these four neighbouring councils has been unprecedented, particularly between Perth and Dundee.”
Vicki Unite, chief executive, Perthshire Chamber of Commerce said the bid “represents a real opportunity to achieve a step change in the region’s economic fortunes”.
MSP Alexander Stewart said: “It is to be welcomed as it gives us a huge opportunity to develop the cultural experience.
“This is just going to give another dimension to the area and there will be a knock-on effect for businesses and the community. It will bring jobs and prosperity.”
This is just going to give another dimension to the area and there will be a knock-on effect for businesses and the community