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Ambitious proposals for Perth city’s future

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A bid to review business rates for hard pressed local firms is among a raft of measures proposed as Perth seeks to cash in on its city status.

A far-reaching strategy to tap into the “economic, social and cultural opportunities” brought about by last year’s grant has been prepared.

The ambitious multi-million pound wishlist covers the next two decades and would prove a dramatic facelift for the Fair City.

It includes the creation of a new business park, a third Tay road crossing and an overhaul of the Dewar’s Centre and leisure pool.

Of particular interest to local businesses will be an approach to the Scottish Government to review rates, which are currently seen as strangling growth and starving the city centre of fresh investment.

The Tourist Information Centre will also be made more prominent. Its absence from the city centre has been a longstanding bugbear.

Council Leader, Councillor Ian Miller, said: “Our ambition is for Perth to be a leading small European city with a vibrant economic, social and cultural life – a place where people want to be.”

The Perth City Plan includes provisions to deliver superfast broadband by next year and new industrial estates and a business park at North Muirton by the following year, as well as a new industrial estate at Broxden by 2018.

Enhancements to key streets and vennels in the city centre to promote “a vibrant, economically-strong, mixed-use 24-hour city centre” will be completed by 2017 and the refurbishment of the rink and pool is to be finished by 2023.

The new Cross Tay Link road, which requires significant infrastructure around the city is pencilled-in for a 2020 completion.

Other items intriguingly marked on diagrams in the document include a waterfront leisure/ tourism development and park and ride on the Tay at Walnut Grove, a food and drink park at Muirton and a mixed residential/ retail area at Thimblerow

Mr Miller said: “Our ambition is for Perth to be a leading small European city with a vibrant economic, social and cultural life – a place where people want to be.

“We have already done a lot of work towards that goal, and the restoration of city status has given us a huge opportunity to develop our ambitions further. The Perth City Plan sets out how we will do that.

“We will continue to work alongside local people, local businesses and our partner organisations to achieve all of our goals for Perth.

“This exciting strategy shows that the future is very bright for Perth, and for Perth and Kinross as a whole.”

As well as the major projects, the council vision includes the development of a mixture of shops in the city centre, and encouraging use of vacant shops and houses, including the possibility of providing student accommodation.

Perth will be marketed as a ‘city break’ destination and local attractions and hotels will continue to be developed to increase visitor numbers from the current 500,000 a year.

The introduction of low-carbon transport is to be explored along with the development of a city distribution hub that will reduce the amount of heavy goods vehicles using the city centre.

The council meeting on Wednesday will be asked to approve the Plan and its associated actions, along with the setting up of a City Development Board of public and private sector parties, to drive forward key projects.

Councillors will also be asked to approve a new Perth City logo which depicts a stylised crown based on the old Perth bridge.

The plan was welcomed by Perthshire Chamber of Commerce.

Chief Executive, Vicki Unite, said: “We have a real opportunity to capitalise on Perth’s City status for the benefit of the whole of the Perthshire economy.

“We have provided direct input during the consultation period and we are pleased that a number of business critical issues that we raised on behalf of our members are included in the strategy.

“Issues such as wide access to superfast broadband, the availability and access to business land, transport infrastructure and fairer business rates are issues we have championed over the past few years and engaged on with the Scottish Government.

“It is vital all stakeholders locally, including businesses, seize the opportunity we have to make things happen.

“As the independent voice of business in Perthshire, we will continue to work closely with Perth and Kinross Council to ensure the maximum benefit comes from city status for local companies and our communities.”