Action needed to save church

Jan 16 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

IT IS time to face up to reality and admit that rapidly decaying St Paul’s Church cannot be saved in its present form.

That is the view of a former member of the building’s preservation trust.

But Bill McConnell believes that Perth should look to the city of London for inspiration.

And he is convinced that the St Paul’s landmark steeple could provide the focal point of a peaceful city centre haven.

A string of salvage proposals have been flagged up over the years but none have come to fruition. The long-neglected building has become an eyesore and civic embarrassment.

Mr McConnell said: “It’s too late now for recriminations over St Paul’s and we have to find a sensible, economic and sustainable solution which retains the focal point in the High Street and finds favour with surrounding businesses, which have had to suffer by non-action for so many years.

“To restore the masonry only, including the steeple, wouldn’t be too costly and a competition for the surrounding landscape would generate interest.”

Now based in London, the Bell-Ingram non-executive director and project manager on the Building Schools for the Future project said: “The original Wren spire of medieval St Dunstan survived the Blitz and in the 1970s the remains were transformed into a peaceful haven. Something similar could be created in Perth and that would be my preference to total clearance.”

Mr McConnell, along with several like-minded individuals, was eager to save St Paul’s when he joined the preservation trust but he has watched with dismay as the listed building has been allowed to rot.

He said: “When the trust was formed I believed St Paul’s was on the cusp of being saveable. Our final proposal, after a number of studies, was to retain the steeple and masonry, removing all the decay and leaving the steeple and walls as a crucial focal point at the end of the High Street.

“Our outline business plan achieved almost total support from the surrounding businesses, with the emphasis on forming a market and other attractions in the space.

“Although discussions with the council were initially very positive, unfortunately the local authority’s conservation department persuaded officials that they could do better and were given authority to go back to look at other development opportunities.

“That resulted in the trust folding. We knew that unless some very wealthy benefactor could be found the commercial figures simply could not stack up.

“Sadly the current state of the building illustrates the reality of the commercial difficulties which prevailed at that time and which are even more relevant in the current economic climate.”

Mr McConnell said: “My own view now is that the condition of the property is so poor that demolition and/or partial reconstruction of the masonry is the only remaining option.

“The current developer would, I’m sure, jump at the chance of exiting from any agreed deal and allow those responsible to make the application. It is essential that we do something now.

“Historic Scotland will probably require some idea of how the space is going to be filled before giving approval for full or partial demolition

“My suggestion is that local architects are invited to produce plans and funding proposals for a replacement focal point – with no commercial content – for this key area of central Perth.

“Why not rebuild the steeple and clock from the existing masonry, utilising the surrounding area as a landscaped meeting place?

“So-called commercial ideas should now be dropped so that the long-suffering surrounding businesses and the people of Perth can see some action at last.”