A public vote on the future of Perth City Hall has not been ruled out by council chiefs.
Responding to a clamour for a referendum Councillor Ian Miller, leader of Perth and Kinross Council, conceded this was a possibility but judged it “unlikely”.
He said a public vote would be an expensive exercise and pleaded for patience while all options are considered.
A referendum was suggested by Courier columnist Jim Crumley, who said: “Why not ask Perth what it wants?” His idea of a public vote struck a chord with local people.
Victor Clements of Aberfeldy backed the idea saying: “If councillors cannot make the decision, let the people of Perth decide.”
Perth man Bob Thomas also thought the fate of the city hall should rest with local people.
“If there was some kind of a vote it would be real local democracy,” he said.
Councillor Alexander Stewart entered the debate saying: “People have lost all confidence in the City Hall process and that is because it has dragged on for such a length of time.
“The community is still very much divided with those who want to retain it and those who want to demolish it.
“It now appears that there is a solution that is being considered but I think that the public should have a say.”
Businessman Willie White, whose Willows coffee shop lies in the shadow of the hall, called a public vote “an interesting idea” and said he backed MSP Murdo Fraser’s suggestion that the Stone of Destiny be housed in in the hall.
However, one long term supporter of retaining the hall, who preferred not to be named, pointed out that Historic Environment Scotland still wanted all efforts to retain the hall to be explored.
“The fate of a piece of natural heritage can’t be decided by a public vote,” he said. “What if a referendum decided to knock it down? The council is not a free agent. They would have knocked it down by now if they were.”
Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart said: “Whilst I welcome any survey of public opinion, I am of the view that our directly elected councillors are there to make decisions such as this on our behalf.”