By Eric Nicolson

THE FUTURE of Caithness Glass and its 60 employees in Perth could be secured by the end of the week after councillors gave the go-ahead to multi- million pound plans to redevelop the tourist attraction.

The Perth plant has been under threat for six weeks, since parent company Edinburgh Crystal went bust and it was placed in the hands of receivers.

At yesterday’s Perth and Kinross Council development control committee, members unanimously supported plans to transform the site into a major tourism destination and shopping complex, of which Caithness Glass will be only a part.

Dartington Crystal have been unveiled as the potential buyers of Caithness Glass, while Auchterarder building firm, A&L King and the Kilmartin Property Group are the developers behind the overall plan.

The plans pre-date Caithness Glass being plunged into receivership but backers have previously warned failure to dramatically alter the site could spell the end for the firm in Perth.

It remains one of Perth’s prime tourist attractions and the company will demolish the existing 1970s building and replace it with a “retail parade” of seven units attached to a smaller glassmaking plant with 300 parking spaces, securing the existing jobs.

Despite being contrary to the local plan, and possibly the structure plan, it has received the backing of council planners and now councillors.

Committee members were not impressed with the computer generated image of the development and have insisted the final design layout be brought back to them before a brick can be laid.

Dartington Crystal managing director John Morris told the committee he held a similar position at Caithness Glass a few years ago and believes the “business can be successful.”

He said, “What we’ve put forward to the administrator is to purchase the business and retain the vast majority of the people employed there.

“We think that it is critical that we have a modern facility as it is not particularly visitor friendly at the moment. I know people there and I think they would look on us as an ideal partner to work with the Caithness team.”

Developers’ agent Phil Pritchard added, “We would be looking to attract tourism-related, quality retailers for an up-market development which would be marketed as the gateway to Perth and to the Highlands.

“The administrators will be making a decision on Caithness Glass at the end of this week after this meeting.”

Councillors were insistent the developers come back to them with detailed plans for an “iconic” building.

The complex has been criticised by Perth Civic Trust which claims it will draw commerce from Perth town centre.