Two mystery bidders are in the running to resurrect Perth City Hall.
However, after waiting for months for the applicants to be made known, the local authority declined to tell the people of Perth who they are.
Three developers had already broken cover to confirm their place in the process prior to a much-anticipated midday deadline.
In a brief statement, however, Perth and Kinross Council would only confirm it had received five proposals for the redevelopment of the former civic centre.
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser slammed the council’s silence, saying there was “no justification” for its failure to reveal details of the bids.
“It is very disappointing that Perth and Kinross council are not prepared to be more open with the people of Perth over the future of the city hall,” he told The Courier.
“This saga has been going on for so long now that there is a great deal of public frustration at the way it is being handled.
“The people of Perth deserve to know what is going on and what the likely future of the city hall will look like and there is no justification for the council not releasing this information.”
It also emerged that elected members may now not take a decision on any of the schemes until after the May General Election, with July 1 the likely date.
For those keen to see the hall saved, the conclusion of the latest marketing process is nonetheless a small victory.
Not since 2004, when the process first began, has there been such backing from developers and businessmen for the retention of the hall.
The five plans put before the council match in number those submitted more than a decade ago, when there appeared hope the building would become a shopping centre.
Their champions must now persuade independent assessors and council officials that their schemes are viable, affordable and will benefit the city.
If they cannot, the council could yet press ahead with plans for demolition and the creation of a civic square.
The rivals include the Seventy Group, which has already gained an element of approval for plans to create a boutique five-star hotel.
Perth Market Place Limited’s “fully funded” proposals for a food market hall and community resource, to be named “the Community Hall”, were also lodged.
And Perth businessman John Bryden’s vision of a “hall for the community” and student accommodation was revealed to the public earlier this week.
Two as yet unidentified others complete the field.
Speaking to The Courier, a spokesman for Perth Market Place Limited said their plan was “fully-funded”, with an experienced operator waiting in the wings to ensure it is professionally run.
“Our scheme will revitalise the building and by doing so help to revitalise the whole city centre,” he said.
“The nature of our proposal is such that it will cater for the whole community, benefiting all the people, every day.”
Pete Wishart, the Perth and North Perthshire MP, has reiterated his calls for the matter to be brought to a close as swiftly as possible.
A staunch supporter of plans to raze the hall and create a civic square in its wake, he conceded that he would be open to a viable alternative but he also urged the council to move quickly to have the hall demolished if the offers do not pass muster.
He said: “Yesterday marked the latest episode of the Perth City Hall saga a production now some 10 years in the making.
“The people of Perth are growing increasingly tired of this particular drama and now just want it concluded.
“I will look at any initiative that can bring this back into use, but this must be the last round and the final episode.
“If these latest plans and schemes are once again proven to be unworkable and unsustainable, we must quickly proceed to the council’s plans to create a fit-for-purpose, all-year-round civic square.
“This must be resolved, and it must be resolved soon, as this is the heart of our city and we need to get it working again.”