City Hall could have housed the Tayside Police Museum

Jul 26 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

Dear Editor, – I am for keeping the City Hall as part of the history of Perth.

Perth and Kinross need to answer these questions that will, no doubt, be in the back of the residents’ of Perth and Kinross’s minds, given the fact the council, like many others, have to make savings to balance the books.

l How much have the council spent on getting the plans to demolish the City Hall made up?

l How much will the actual demolition of the City Hall cost should it be given the go ahead?

l Why are the council blaming the economic climate for the continued missed deadline from Wharfside regeneration when in fact the City Hall closed in 2005 when the Concert Hall was opened and the recession that is still hitting the country happened in 2008. A full three years after the City Hall closed?

l Why, when they finally pull the rug from under Wharfside Regeneration over the City Hall did they never ask the business men and women who originally wanted it before Wharfside won the contract, not get the offer to do something with the City Hall?

l Why have Perth and Kinross Council dismissed the alternative plans (which are on display in Willows coffee shop). I have seen them and they are good thought-out plans?

l Are the council dismissing the other plans because they have a hidden agenda and want it down?

l What makes the council think that if they get rid of the City Hall that the space which is left is big enough for a piazza or square?

l Why don’t the council keep the City Hall and put things like the market stalls in there? The Tayside Police Museum could have gone in the City Hall if the council had requested to house it there as there is not much space in the Bell Street Headquarters at the moment and so it is going to Kirriemuir. Dundee want their own version of the Transport Museum that is in Glasgow and are looking for artefacts from the Perth and Kinross area which could have stayed in Perth and Kinross by going in the City Hall. There is the Battle of Prestonpans Tapestry that mentions Perth on it which is needing a permanent home which would be ideal for the City Hall.Or other things to bring in the tourists could be situated in the City Hall.

l What will the council do if the Scottish Government and National Trust for Scotland or Historic Scotland refuses permission for knocking down the City Hall?

l Have the council got a back up plan should this happen?

l When the council handed the city status bid in did they tell the decision makers about what plans they had for the B listed building that is the City Hall?

I hope that someone from the council has the decency to answer the questions and points I have raised.

Name and address supplied.