DESPITE THE resignation of its director, the Royal Scottish Geographical Society has pledged it will have a bright future in Perth.

The society is moving its headquarters from rented accommodation at Strathclyde University in Glasgow at a cost of £1.6 million.

However, a failed lottery bid has torpedoed those initial plans, leading to the resignation of the educational charity’s director Dr David Munro.

The society council intends to push ahead with the plans and take up residence in Perth in September, as planned.

In that it has the full backing of Perth and Kinross Council chiefs.

However, the society admits that its ambitious plans will have to be introduced in stages, with much of the development being undertaken as and when funding is available.

That proved too much for Dr Munro, who believes the society should have made more significant efforts to secure funding.

While admitting that the lottery decision had been “quite a blow”, he added, “I really believe that if we had pushed on we could have raised the money in the necessary time.

“This would have given the society a world-class home.”

He said he had grave concerns over whether the plans could now be brought forward.

“I do not think the society council’s plan B is workable,” he said.

“They are not delivering a building that is fit for purpose and I don’t think that funders will fund it.”

The society is set to take up residence in Perth after years without a permanent headquarters.

After looking at more than 50 buildings throughout Scotland it decided to make Fair Maid’s House its home.

At a meeting with councillors in November last year a clearly proud Dr Munro unveiled plans for the £1.6 million regeneration of historic B-listed Fair Maid’s House and the adjacent Lord John Murray’s House.

The society had hoped to create a modern centre capable of housing a collection of “national importance”.

The headquarters was to have housed an exhibition space, meeting and education rooms, reading rooms, offices and a shop.

In the rear garden meanwhile, a vault was to be built to house the society’s historic map collection and archives in appropriate conditions.

However, a spokes- man for the Royal Scottish Geographical Society admitted that some of those features may have to wait.

“The lottery funding decision knocked a big dent in the plans but this is a situation that is recoverable,” he said.

“The plans will now have to be taken forward in carefully orchestrated stages.”

Perth and Kinross Council too remains confident that the plans will go ahead.

It believes that the presence of the RSGS in the town will be of huge benefit to its academic and educational establishments and to its bid for city status.

It is continuing the dialogue with the RSGS to finalise the terms of the lease of the Fair Maid’s House and the sale of Lord John Murray’s House.

Provost John Hulbert said, “We remain extremely enthusiastic about the RSGS’s plans to move to Perth.

“The society will add value to the development of environmental education within the area and support the emerging city centre cultural campus and will be a prestigious occupier for some of Perth’s most historic properties.

“Having the RSGS move to the city will be a great honour and it will also secure the long-term future of these buildings.

“The council will continue to do all that it can to assist the RSGS make Perth its new home.”