The quest to identify a new role for Perth City Hall reached an important stage today.
Forced by Historic Scotland to make fresh efforts to see if anyone has a viable plan to retain the B-listed Edwardian hall, the council’s marketing of the building closed at noon.
The council, which had sought listed building consent to demolish the building to make way for a civic square, will now weigh up any options on the table.
”The City Hall has been marketed for three months to allow any parties to submit notes of interest in developing the building,” said a council spokesman.
”There will now follow a period of nine months to allow prospective developers to submit more detailed proposals which can demonstrate the viability, economic benefits and funding of any development.
”These submissions will be assessed by the officers of the council, and a detailed report will then go before councillors.
”The council has received some notes of interest, but we cannot reveal any details at this point.”
The decision in the summer by Historic Scotland to refuse listed building consent to demolish the hall was accepted with an air of resignation by councillors, who were keen to press on with their favoured plan for a new square.
The additional period of marketing will cost the council around £25,000, which added to the frustration expressed at the meeting in July.
”This has gone on for ages and ages and becomes increasingly embarrassing,” said Councillor Willie Wilson at the meeting.
Councillor Alexander Stewart said the attention generated by the saga of what to do with City Hall had generated negative publicity, both nationally and internationally.
He said that marketing the property would give people who had suggested alternative plans the opportunity to ”put up or shut up”.
”People within this chamber have been stymied by people outwith the chamber,” he said, adding that they had become ”stuck in a quagmire”.
Councillor Peter Barrett concluded: ”The people of Perth want an end to this saga”, while Councillor Archie MacLellan said that it must be made clear that the £3.28 million earmarked for a civic square by the council would not be available to a developer for an alternative use.
The council leader, Councillor Ian Miller, said that they were left with no option but to market the hall.
”Our priority, across the council, has always been to find the solution that best supports the local economy and best serves the wider community,” he said.
”Perth City Hall is a building that inspires strong feelings. A universally popular option for its future may very well not be possible, but consultation has shown that our proposal for a city square carried majority support from residents.”
A lone voice in the chamber back in July was Councillor Mike Barnacle, who noted that the council had been criticised for not providing enough evidence to support demolition, and that 240 of the 250 representations made to Historic Scotland had opposed knocking the building down.
”We must listen to this,” he said.
The efforts to maintain the building while a new role is sought continue and workmen have been seen over the past few days coming and going from the building.
”The work currently being carried out on City Hall is regular, general maintenance to keep the fabric of the building in an acceptable condition,” explained a council spokesman.