A multimillion-pound plan to light up Perth and reinvigorate its flagging night-life has won crucial backing from councillors.
The controversial City of Light project drew support from members of the enterprise and infrastructure committee, despite warnings that it was too costly and would increase light pollution.
There were also concerns that project leaders couldn’t guarantee how effective the scheme would be.
The Perth and Kinross Council-led proposal envisages lighting up landmark buildings and city centre streets, as well as iconic structures like the Kinnoul Hill tower and Queen’s Bridge.
Designers Lightfolio, which worked on the world famous Kelpies in Falkrik, have said the total cost of the plan would be more than £12million. The council is expected to pay around £7.7million, with the private sector – including the owners of some of the earmarked buildings – being asked to contribute nearly £3million.
Council officers are investigating other funding sources and sponsorship.
The plan has received a mixed response from locals with more than 1,000 people signing a petition calling for the scheme to be scrapped.
Committee convenor John Kellas said: “I believe anything that helps our city should be valued and not dismissed. This is part of a much wider jigsaw and we need every piece to be put in place before the full picture emerges.
“Some people would have us believe that the city does not have anything worth lighting up. But I would say Perth and its retailers needs our support and not negativity.
“It is right that we should bring forward enhancements that will improve the experience for visitors and shoppers.”
The committee heard that several private firms had already expressed an interest in getting involved in the scheme.
Perth City North councillor Dave Doogan welcomed the plan and said he hoped clarity on cost of the scheme would end public anxiety.
Kinross-shire councillor Willie Robertson was concerned that there was no guarantee the plan would increase footfall and suggested that only one part of the initiative should be agreed in the first instance. “I’m not entirely convinced this is going to bring more people into shops,” he said. “We need to test one project out and see what difference it makes before we go ahead with the rest of the scheme. I’m not sure we should be adopting a scattergun approach.”
Councillor Mike Barnacle said the scheme would make a “significant impact” on the council’s capital budget. “I know of many, many competing priorities and I would find it difficult to justify the level of expenditure we’re talking about,” he said. “Putting a lot of money into decorative lighting which will increase, not reduce, light pollution – I’m not sure that that is a priority.”
Councillor Alan Livingstone was also unconvinced. “The proposal to show a link by lighting buildings and increasing economic activity in Perth is unproven,” he said. “No ifs, buts or maybes, it is unsubstantiated.”
Mr Robertson’s motion to test one scheme before moving ahead with the rest of the plan was narrowly defeated in a seven-six vote.