Why I won’t move my business back to Perth

Jan 16 2009 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

Dear Editor, – Having returned to Perth after emigrating to the US almost four years ago, I was excited to see what changes and improvements have been made in Perth during my time away. It was with great dismay that I returned to find that Perth was no longer a city with a vision.

In particular I was saddened to see that the business community in Perth are struggling to survive, with a record number of empty shops in the city and an even greater number of companies looking to close their stores in Perth.

Perth was once a city that inspired entrepreneurs and business owners, with local markets and a range of quality independent shops. While other cities in Scotland have moved with the times Perth seems to have taken a few steps back.

I have heard from family and friends of the plans to develop Perth, and I must admit I was impressed to hear of the plans for the new shopping malls, housing developments at Errol Airport, the road improvement schemes, to name a few. But many of these ideas have been in the pipeline for years and don’t seem likely to become a reality any time soon.

In my short time back in Perth I have already identified a number of problems which has caused and will continue to cause problems for the business community in Perth, including excess business rates – with no flexibility for payment to small business, drunks and homeless laying around in the streets and poor road and parking conditions in and around the city. But in particular the councillors in Perth and their disregard for the business community.

As a regular reader of the PA online, I read week on week of how the councillors in Perth are unnecessarily causing problems for local business. Only recently I read of the issue surrounding the Willows Coffee Shop alcohol license, in which Perth councillors were overstepping there remit and causing problems where there wasn’t one. The new village housing development at Errol is another prime example of the Councillors throwing their toys out the pram. The development would be a small step in moving Perth in the right direction, an example of councillors making decisions that benefit them and not the people of Perth.

I have identified these as being problems in a short space of time, which makes me wonder if the people who are making decision on behalf of the people of Perth are really qualified to do so.

It is my belief that they would be helping the people of Perth a great deal more if they retired to their gentleman’s club and elected people who are less bitter and who have the knowledge and experience to take this city forward, someone who doesn’t think that the role of a councillors was invented to satisfied the huge egos of the current bunch.

It was my intention to return to Perth to setup a British arm to my now thriving US companies, however from what I have seen of Perth in the last few months I must now consider if Perth, my hometown, really can be a viable option for my business moving forward.

The councillors, Perth and Kinross Council and Perth City Centre management need to talk to the local business and people of Perth, to find away to move forward. As it currently stands the people of Perth are not given a second thought.

Ryan Walker,

Via the PA website,

www.perthshireadvertiser.co.uk