The owner of a Perth eyesore church at the centre of a row over urgent repairs has claimed work will begin next month.
Perth and Kinross Council issued an urgent repairs notice to Arengate Ltd, who own St Paul’s Church, instructing them to carry out necessary work on the building by June 1.
The local authority has threatened to complete the work then bill the company for costs which could be up to £400,000, excluding VAT.
A spokesman for James Boyd, a director with Arengate, has stated the Northern Irish businessman has arranged for work to start around July 4.
He said this will include getting rid of pigeons and the mess they have created inside of the building.
It is understood Mr Boyd is planning arrangements for external security at the site as well as a safe access and exit point.
In an email sent by a Perth and Kinross Council property officer, seen by The Courier, the local authority appears to be willing to give the developer some breathing space.
The officer stated: “I can confirm that the council shall not undertake the works…so long as you commence them on the week beginning July 4, 2016, and complete them within a reasonable timescale thereafter.
“Just to be clear, we shall be continuing with the procurement process for the urgent works.”
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council confirmed there had been correspondence with the owner.
They added: “This does not alter our current approach – we will continue with the procurement process to appoint our own contractor.
“It also remains that the specified list of urgent works must be undertaken and if necessary the owner will be billed unless they have the works carried out to the same standard in the interim.”
Mr Boyd previously stated he would invest £1 million to refurbish the former church if the council pledged the same amount of money.
The businessman, who is also a director with Simple Marketing Global, aims to transform the building into a care/heritage centre.
He claims he has contacted Scottish Heritage Lottery and the council for help with funding but has received “no guarantees.”
Mr Boyd also previously admitted he was willing to sell the building at one stage to an Islamist religious organisation
St Paul’s Church has remained empty since it closed its doors in 1986.
