Councillors will meet this afternoon to consider whether to set the ball rolling on a £12 million plan to light up Perth.
The controversial scheme, which involves illuminating key landmarks and using colourful spotlights to brighten up streets and thoroughfares, is aimed at boosting the city’s night-time economy and making it more attractive to visitors and investors.
But opponents have argued that the money would be better spent on other services. A petition against the plan, which was launched on Friday, has already reached more than 1,000 signatures.
Today, members of Perth and Kinross Council’s enterprise and infrastructure committee will be urged to adopt the City of Light Action Plan and investigate further funding.
The council has already agreed to fund the first £100,000 phase of the project.
A senior planning officer has said that although the total cost of the scheme would be £12million, the local authority may only spend around £5million over the next five to seven years.
The project is designed by Lightfolio, the team which worked on the world famous Kelpies at Falkirk. In the company’s report, a spokesman said: “Whilst the action plan outlines a number of proposals for each initiative, these are only at the concept stage. Perth and Kinross Council officers will use the initial treatment proposals as a basis for dialogue with third parties and the development of lighting briefs.
“It is not realistic to expect the council to deliver each initiative.”
Key locations to be lit up are Tay Street, High Street, Perth Concert Hall and Mill Street.