Consultants are being drafted in to check the health of Perth city centre following the loss of McEwens.
The £30,000 study has been commissioned by Perth and Kinross Council to assess town centre and retail challenges across the region. It will be used to inform future developments and investments.
Edinburgh-based Roderick Maclean Associates has been awarded the contract for the work.
The consultancy will speak to shoppers, traders, identify shortfalls and consider calls for action such as a review of parking and removal of pedestrianised zones such as St John Street.
The wide-ranging review, which is carried out every five years, was planned before McEwens’ shock announcement at the end of March.
Some shopkeepers have branded the study a waste of cash, but the move has been welcomed by the Federation of Small Businesses.
Gillian MacEwan, who chairs the Perth and Kinross branch, said: “We welcome any positive action from Perth & Kinross Council that is going to address the challenges faced by our town centres and high streets. We hope this study will also look at issues such as parking, traffic management, access and rents, in addition to planning.”
She added: “Although a strong retail sector with a broad range of independent retailers is an important part of a dynamic town centre, we also know that the future of our high streets doesn’t rely exclusively on shops, but on a mix of public services, housing and non-retail businesses and we would urge the Council to look at the bigger picture.
“How we shop, live and work has changed for good – the challenge is to ensure that our local towns and economies thrive despite this shift and that the ‘town centres first’ ethos is being adhered to by the public agencies, as well as the private sector.”
Meanwhile, retailers are expected to descend on a meeting of the full council on Wednesday afternoon when Conservative councillor Alexander Stewart raises a motion, challenging local authority chiefs to produce an action plan for the city’s future.
The new MSP said: “The motion that I shall be putting forward will be a real test of whether or not the SNP are prepared to listen to the growing concerns that local business owners have and the challenges that they are facing.”
Mr Stewart added: “The best people who know how we can create a vibrant and thriving retail environment are the retailers themselves: We should be using the knowledge and expertise of retailers but this current council administration is not taking their concerns, such as those about pedestrianisation and lack of parking, on board.”
The Conservative group is encouraging shopkeepers to attend the meeting, although they will not be allowed to take part in the talks.
