Despite councillors unanimously endorsing plans to convert Perth City Hall into a cultural attraction, the man behind a food market hall believes his proposal remains a credible “live” alternative.
The council-backed vision of housing the Stone of Destiny in the city hall could falter, according to Vivian Linacre of Perth Market Place Ltd, leaving his plan very much in the mix.
“We remain engaged in refreshing our proposals to ensure that the food market hall remains alive as an alternative to the council scheme,” said Mr Linacre.
“Perth Market Place remains confident that the food market hall project offers the ideal new purpose for the city hall and the ideal means of revitalising the city centre as a whole — at no cost to the public.
“The ambitious alternative scheme that the council has now adopted does raise issues of urban community planning for further consideration.
“Is Perth a city for the people or a city for tourists?
“Is the policy to improve and expand the city’s facilities and attractions for the benefit of residents and local businesses as well as visitors, or to achieve recognition as the stopping place between Stirling (Castle and Wallace Monument) and Dundee (V&A and Discovery)?
“The expected additional 160,000 annual visitors attracted by the Stone of Destiny and visual arts centre will probably combine this venue with Scone Palace before moving onto Dundee, taking lots of photographs but spending very little, whereas the 750,000 footfall expertly estimated for the food market hall would be coming for the very purpose of buying the produce — as well as goods in the present shopping centre.
“What is the benefit of becoming ‘one of Europe’s great small cities’ if it is not only great and small but also dead? Isn’t it better to become one of Europe’s liveliest small cities?”
Mr Linacre has invested considerable time, money and effort in recent years promoting his venture, and tribute was paid at the meeting of the council when councillors decided to back the cultural option for the Edwardian building which has now lain empty for 12 years.
Councillor Peter Barrett, while endorsing the cultural centre, said: “We must acknowledge the efforts of Perth Market Place, and Vivian Linacre in particular, to regenerate and revitalise the city hall.”
