Council planners are putting the final touches to their vision of what will replace Perth’s city hall.
News on progress towards the creation of a civic square is believed to be imminent, though some people continue to call for the Edwardian building’s retention.
Following requests for an update, a spokeswoman for the local authority would say only that, “Work is ongoing developing designs for the civic square,” but admitted that further information would soon be forthcoming.
And while the council has refused to be drawn on the nature of any development, the local authority will need to come forward with its plans soon if its timescale for completion by 2014 is to be met.
Progress would be a welcome boost to businesses within the town’s cafe quarter and also to St John’s Kirk, one of the town’s finest attractions.
New businesses have begun to move into the area in recent months, in the knowledge that the city hall is to disappear and leave them with an open outlook.
The decision to demolish the city hall was finally taken following a special meeting of Perth and Kinross Council in June last year.
Elected members appeared to accept that there was no scope to retain the landmark, with not one councillor speaking in favour of saving it from the wrecking ball.
The future of the city hall has been the subject of passionate debate for many years, ever since the decision was taken to create a new flagship Perth Concert Hall.
It has proved to be a huge success, but the city hall has sat almost unused ever since and efforts to imbue it with new life have been defeated time and time again.