Waverley Hotel, ‘For goodness sake’ indeed!

Sep 25 2009 by Katy Gordon, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

Dear Editor, – I am glad to see that in these days of gloom, recession and repossession, the PA has not lost its, albeit ironic, sense of humour, as indicated by prominently printing Bridget McGregor's letter regarding the Waverley Hotel!

A “run down blight on the Perth townscape”? Had it not been for the accompanying photograph I would have thought Bridget McGregor was referring to another Waverley Hotel in the Fair City.

As a “B&B at the end of it's life” the Waverley Hotel presents quite a respectable facade. There are a number of B&B establishments in Perth that from the exterior are very much more run down and seedy than the Waverley Hotel could ever aspire. In terms of “blights” on the townscape, there are many more examples dotting the Perth townscape for which “blight” would be a complimentary adjective.

Just a short walk round Perth city centre reveals a number of "blights"; 57 South St. is a sorry sight, the corner building of George St and High St appears to have a tree growing from a top floor window and the facade above Gillies looks like it is going to fall to the pavement, 12 Methven Street does a nice line in boarded up windows.

The top prize must go to the historic and crumbling St Paul's church. A visible lack of investment by the owners indeed. These examples are not only “blights”, but useless and empty “blights”.

The Waverley however fulfils a purpose; that is as a place for homeless people, for 'goodness' sake.

While one may be entitled to an opinion as to what comprises a “blight”, to describe the homeless as people in need of trained alcohol and drug counsellors – being the “issues which made them homeless in the first place”, is insulting and denigrating to those whose homelessness has nothing whatsoever to do with alcohol or drugs; those who are not in need of drugs, drink or counselling, but in need of a home.

There are many factors that can contribute to homelessness, and these days one might say those in most need of counselling and social rehabilitation are the ones who have caused the recession, not those suffering from it.

If there is an issue here, it is perhaps one of the ignorance and callousness shown by people who share the opinion of Bridget McGregor.

This ignorance is compounded by the presumptuous comment that the people temporarily housed in the Waverley Hotel “don't want to be there”.

While this may be true in one respect; that it not amusing to be homeless and dependent on charitable infrastructure for a roof over your head, my research revealed that the standard of accommodation provided and the demeanour of the staff at the Waverley Hotel offer a great deal of dignity and a friendly respectful attitude that can be a lifeline for those, who for whatever reason, find themselves homeless.

Before denigrating the homeless, and those institutions and individuals addressing the problem, one could do well to remind oneself that a 'home' is no guarantee of good citizenship; none of the half dozen or so people reported in the same edition of the PA for having committed antisocial, drug or alcohol related crimes appear to be homeless, or reside at the Waverley Hotel.

James D. McLaren, by email