Perth and Kinross council rethink corporate colours

Jul 3 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A TEAM of bridge painters were left baffled this week when they were told to go back to black.

Fashion conscious Perth and Kinross Council had decided their corporate colours would be this year’s black, with the Queen’s Bridge set to enjoy a new look for the Perth 800 celebrations.

But when local councillors began receiving complaints from locals before the pale aqua and bold blue hues had even dried, the local authority came under pressure to re-think their colour chart.

It triggered some colourful letters to the PA, with Elaine Baker branding it “cheap and nasty,” while James Clark insisted: “I can’t be the only one who thinks the new colours are a vast improvement.”

Yesterday Councillor Peter Barrett regretted the decision to dull down but noted that he had been outnumbered by three fellow city centre councillors.

In midweek, a specialist team from Moray Blast based in Fochabers were involved in a cover up.

Having worked their way along the bridge, they were told to revert to the original black for the railings.

A council spokesman said: “The decision on what colour to paint bridge railings is made by our bridge engineers.

“This time it was decided to brighten up the bridge for the Perth 800 celebrations.

“However, the four local members received some comments from residents and passed them on to officers in the Environment Service.

“The local members were then asked their opinion on what colour the railings should be, and their decision was to paint it black.”

He confirmed the black paint had cost an additional £1,000.

A total of £30,000 is being spent on the current programme of works to refurbishing the bridge for Perth 800.

Councillor Barrett said: “I accept it’s not the most important issue facing the council but I thought the new-look was very elegant and it’s a terrible shame we didn’t give it a chance.

“Unfortunately I was in a minority among city centre members. But I recognise it’s all down to personal taste.

“I still believe the process was flawed because there should have been consultation in the community at the outset.

“But I feel the new colours should have been given a chance. They would have enhanced the visual aspect of Perth in Bloom.